On March 4, 2013, Phil Cihiwsky began a seven month trek from San Diego, California to York Harbor, Maine to tell the story of over 8 million seniors who are hungry and homebound. In an effort to raise awareness and funds to support Meals on Wheels, Phil is walking for those who can’t.
Phil’s latest leg of his 3,000 mile journey brought him to Fountain Hill, AZ, where high winds, elevation peaks of 8,000 feet and and shin splints prevented him from trekking forward for several days. Walking an average of 19 miles a day has certainly given Phil some time to mull over the cause that he has dedicated to his journey.
“It helps me understand what some of the seniors are going through as far as isolation, loneliness, hunger at times and the need for food and a helping hand,” he said in a recent Fountain Hill Times article. “It’s no fun being lonely and isolated. I can appreciate a lot more of those people who are in need of a helping hand.”
Learn more about Phil and his itinerary by visiting the Meals-on-Wheels of Greater San Diego’s website dedicated to Phil’s journey.
The following piece is from the blog of Community Care North Hastings in Ontario, Canada. As one of several Canadian programs that participated in the annual Mayors For Meals campaign, the program recruited two local mayors to deliver meals to their homebound seniors. Read the post below and learn more about the program at www.http://comcarenh.org/new/.
Meals on Wheels is about more than a hot lunch.The Community Care North Hastings Meals on Wheels program delivers meals to seniors around Bancroft twice each week. And while a hot and tasty meal is welcomed by those in the program, it’s not just the meal that makes a difference.
Meals are delivered by CCNH volunteers and the lunch time delivery provides an opportunity for a quick visit.
Meals come with a smile, a handshake or a hug.
To help raise awareness for the Meals on Wheels program, our two local Mayors took the time to help with delivery on March 21 as part of a National Mayors for Meals campaign.
Hastings Highlands Mayor Vivian Bloom did the first delivery of the day and enjoyed a visit with CCNH client Joe Vance. There were hugs and Vance shared some hunt camp memories with Mayor Bloom.
Hastings Highlands Mayor Vivian Bloom gets a hug from CCNH Meals on Wheels client Joe Vance on March 21.
In Bancroft, Mayor Bernice Jenkins enjoyed the visit to CCNH Meals on Wheels client Frank Pronovich. Pronovich welcomed the Mayor and shared some family photos during the visit.
“This is an important program for so many reasons,” said Meals on Wheels Program Coordinator Krista McCaw. “For seniors who live alone it’s a
hot meal but it’s also a quick visit. The program also acts as a security reassurance program for families. If there is no answer when the meal is delivered we can contact family members immediately.”
March For Meals was a phenomenal success this year, with more than 100 programs participating from Waterbury, Connecticut, to Honolulu, Hawaii. The Canadian Red Cross Society made March For Meals an international event by participating in Mayors For Meals Day. Their 15 participating elected officials are among nearly 1,500 community leaders who delivered meals to seniors this March. View the entire list of elected officials and remember to register participating mayors and other elected officials on the Online Sign Up Form so they may receive national recognition for their volunteer service.
Interested to see what March For Meals and Mayors For Meals events happened in your state? View the March For Meals Press List.
Mayor Kravetz of Panorama City, Texas, with a Meals On Wheels Friendship Center client
