Community Champions Deliver Meals for Meals on Wheels of Lehigh County
to Celebrate the 14th Annual National March for Meals
Allentown, PA, March 24, 2016 – Today “Community Champions” delivered meals to homebound clients throughout Lehigh County as part of the 2016 March for Meals – a nationwide community-by-community celebration of the local Meals on Wheels programs that keep seniors independent in their own homes.
Pam Bechtel, Executive Director, said:”The services that we provide the seniors of Lehigh County are critical and the need is rapidly increasing,” said Pam Bechtel, Executive Director. “Together, we can keep seniors living independently, healthier at home and feeling more connected to their community as they age. We appreciate the participation of the individuals who have agreed to become one of our Meals on Wheels Community Champions and bring awareness to our program. They met the people we serve who benefit from our service and got a first-hand experience of the logistics involved in delivering to 460 people every day.”
Since 2002, Meals on Wheels America has led the annual awareness campaign in an effort to fill the gap between the seniors served and those in need that is widening due to increased demand with a rapidly aging population combined with declining public and private resources, and rising food, transportation and operational costs. This March, hundreds of local Meals on Wheels programs, like Meals on Wheels of Lehigh County will reach out to their communities to build the support that will enable them to deliver nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks to America’s seniors all year long.
“The Meals on Wheels ‘more than just a meal’ model addresses three of the biggest threats of aging: isolation, hunger and loss of independence,” said Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander. “More than ever, we must join forces to meet the needs of the fastest growing population in America who want to be able to live at home for as long as they can. It not only makes economic sense to enable seniors to stay healthy and safe at home, but it improves the health and vibrancy of our communities and our nation at large.”
Lehigh County Community Champions included regular Meals on Wheels volunteers and Board Members; Ed Hozza, Mayor of Whitehall; Ed Pawlowski, Mayor of Allentown; Walter Niedermeyer, Mayor of Slatington; Ryan Mackenzie, State Representative; Mike Schlossberg, State Representative; Pete Schweyer, State Representative; Alta Mercado, Office of Senator Pat Browne; Michael Dee, Representative McNeill’s Office; Brad Osborne, Lehigh County Commissioner; Keith Morris, Allentown Police Chief; Jim Brown, Commissioner Salisbury Township; Tori Morgan, South Whitehall Commissioner; Lisette Santana, PPL; Mitch Hanna, City Center LV; Brittany Garzillo and Laura McHugh, WLVT; Carol Saeger, Just Born Quality Confections; Bill White, The Morning Call; Michael McCreary, LV Grand Prix; Anita Yuskauskas, Penn State LV; Michael Pires and Thelma Van, Jet Pay Payroll Services; Jack Morrone, One Financial Services; Priscilla Rosado, United Way GLV; Sharon Malia, Nancy Gigler-Smith and Lisa Seher, National Penn Investors Trust; and Frank Facchiano and Danielle Joseph, Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Each weekday, Meals on Wheels of Lehigh County, a nonprofit agency, serves 450 homebound seniors and adults with disabilities living throughout Lehigh County. 912 individual and group volunteers deliver about 168,000 meals each year; almost seven million since 1971. Volunteers also provide a social connection and a well-being check. The Agency also offers grocery shopping services to more than 100 clients. For more information, visit www.mealsonwheelslc.org.
Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based senior nutrition programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. By providing funding, leadership, education and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
Press Release Provided By:
Michele Grasso, MPA
Development Director
Meals on Wheels of Lehigh County
4234 Dorney Park Rd.
Allentown, PA 18104
(610)841-7023
