On March 20th, Lehigh County government, business, religious and other community leaders joined Meals on Wheels of Lehigh County Baord members and regular volunteers to deliver meals.
They joined over 1500 others across the country to celebrate "March for Meals." The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) initiated the March For Meals campaign in 2002 as a collective effort to improve the visibility of senior hunger. We Are Meals On Wheels, so no senior goes hungry® is the rallying cry of the campaign and our Association.
This campaign helps local Meals on Wheels providers raise funds, build lasting partnerships and be part of a recognized national event.
Pamela S. Bechtel, Executive Director, welcomed the local leaders and thanked them for participating in the event before they went out on their delivery route. She provided some startling statistics about senior hunger in this country.
1 in 7 Seniors is threatened by hunger.
8.3 million Seniors faced the threat of hunger in 2010.
This reflects a 78% increase since 2001 - and a 34% increase since the start of the recession in 2007.
The threat of hunger for seniors increased in 44 states since 2007.
Ms. Bechtel also stated: "This is our 42nd year serving the homebound in Lehigh County. Our Agency was founded by a grassroots group of citizens who learned about an elderly couple literally starving to death in their own home. They decided that this should not happen in our community. We have been lucky that we can count upon our caring community so that we have never had to institute a waiting list or cut our services. We hope that we can continue to count upon everyone in our community so that no senior in our community suffers from hunger."
Thank you to the following who delivered meals on March 20th alongside our regular volunteers:
Lisa Bachman, Community Relations Coordinator Griswold Home Care; Al Barone. HR Manager C&S Wholesale; Marlene Beers, Controller Supply Chain Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.; Amy Brandon, Capital Blue Cross; Fulton Brown, Subway Development; Jim Brown, CommissionerSalisbury Twsp.; Beth Budick, LVHN; Sara David, WalMart; Kelly Dilbeck, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom; Joseph Fenstermacher, MOW Board member& Questar Capital; Mary Kay Grim, MOW Board member; Will Hahn, Stotz &Fatzinger; Edward Hozza, Jr., Mayor Whitehall Twsp.; Pam Lackman, MOW Board Member & Fellowship Community; Alta Mercado, Office of Senator Pat Browne; Lenore Mohr, United Way; Jeff Morgan; Tori Morgan, Commissioner South Whitehall Twsp.; Tom Muller, Director of Administration County of Lehigh; Walter Niedermeyer, Mayor Slatington; Brad Osborne, Commissioner Lehigh County; Scott Ott, Commissioner County of Lehigh; Amy Pacheco, Executive Director Griswold Home Care; Julie Profilet-Saucier, MOW Board member & Spillman Farmer Architects; Joy Reed, MOW Board member & LSI; Roger Reiss, Commissioner Lower Macungie Twsp.; Cori Rolon, United Way; Debbie Ruyak, American Bank; Ed Ruyak, E.G. Ruyak Real Estate; Michael Santanasto, MOW Board member & Law office of Michael Santanasto; Chuck Stinner, VP Director of Tax, Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.; Bill & SueWeber, Parkland Garden Club; and Candice Williams, Office of Representative Justin Simmons.