The SE Ohio Foodbank JOINS IN #savelunch Movement with Communities Nationwide this March
Support will help fight senior hunger and isolation in SE Ohio
The SE Ohio Foodbank announced today that it will be participating in #SaveLunch – a nationwide campaign led by Meals on Wheels America designed to rally communities around our senior neighbors and protect the essential services that enable so many to remain healthy and independent at home.
“Many seniors find it difficult to ask for help when they need it. When they do ask, we want to be able to meet that need,” says Valerie Addis, Public Relations Coordinator for the SE Ohio Foodbank. “Our senior neighbors are facing hunger and isolation daily. As proud as we are to serve seniors currently enrolled in the Meals on Wheels program, we see the waitlist continue to grow. Meals on Wheels is in urgent need of community support. We are grateful for the support of Senior Nutrition Programs so far, and there is still much more we can accomplish together.”
1 in 3 Meals On Wheels programs nationwide have a waiting list, with an average wait time of 90 days for seniors. This is true for the SE Ohio Foodbank. Increasing funding for Meals on Wheels reduces seniors' food insecurity, social isolation, and health care costs. National and local efforts are being made to address these concerns. Locally, Athens County residents can show their support for Issue 7, a Senior Services Levy aimed at expanding services in the county. Find Athens County Feeding Neighbors on Facebook for more information about Issue 7.
National #SaveLunch efforts in March will commemorate the historic day in March of 1972 when the Older Americans Act was amended to include a nutrition program for Americans 60 years and older. More than 50 years later, 12 million older Americans are still threatened by or experience hunger, and one in three seniors feels lonely. That is why Meals on Wheels programs from across the country are joining forces to raise awareness and support to ensure we can continue to address food insecurity and malnutrition, combat social isolation, enable independence and improve health for decades to come.
“Now is an important time for us to unite to ensure that Meals on Wheels is there for all of our senior neighbors in need,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “In the face of soaring demand and costs that surpass our current resources, we need to come together as communities to bridge the gaps. I encourage you to participate by donating, volunteering or speaking out for seniors throughout March to play your part. We can’t do it alone – it takes all of us to save lunch for our seniors.”
For more information on how you can volunteer, contribute or speak out for seniors in SE Ohio this March, visit hapcap.org/seofb.
About The Southeast Ohio Foodbank
The SE Ohio Foodbank is a program of Hocking Athens Perry Community Action (HAPCAP), a private nonprofit dedicated to alleviating the impacts of poverty, and a member of Feeding America. Headquartered in Logan, Ohio, the SE Ohio Foodbank serves 10 counties, including Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, Vinton, and Washington. Through the work of dedicated staff and volunteers and contributions from generous financial supporters, the organization supplies 70 member food pantries and provides more than three million meals annually. In addition to providing emergency food assistance, the SE Ohio Foodbank works to find innovative solutions to the challenges of food insecurity through the HAPCAP for Health program.
For more, visit www.hapcap.com, follow @FoodbankSE on Twitter, @se.ohio.foodbank on Instagram, or like SE Ohio Foodbank on Facebook.
About Meals on Wheels America
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a trusted volunteer workforce, this network delivers a comprehensive solution that begins with a meal and is proven to enable independence and well-being through the additional benefits of tailored nutrition, social connection, safety and much more. By providing funding, programming, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time.