Meals On Wheels Association of Georgia to Hold March for Meals Campaigns

Meals On Wheels Association of Georgia to Hold March for Meals Campaigns
Mayors and Commissioners assist in feeding homebound seniors throughout state

Atlanta, GA –Various chapters of the Meals On Wheels Association of Georgia (MOWAG) announced today that they will be participating in the national 2012 March For Meals campaign. March For Meals is a national campaign held during the month of March, initiated and sponsored by the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA), to raise awareness of senior hunger and to encourage action on the part of local communities.

MOWAG’s March For Meals events will include a Mayors For Meals event that will have mayors, various elected officials, public safety officials, and community partners throughout the state deliver meals to homebound senior residents. Some of the chapters that will be participating in the program include DeKalb County, Clayton County, Fayette County, North Fulton County, Coweta County along with the cities of Athens, Winder and the city of Atlanta. Mayor Kasim Reed has agreed to join hundreds of other volunteers with meal deliveries in an effort to bring about a greater awareness of this very serious issue among our country’s senior population.

Jeff Smythe, president of MOWAG is excited about the various events taking place throughout the month of March that will help shine some light on the issue of senior citizens going hungry.

“With Georgia’s ranking as #6 in the nation for incidence of senior hunger, our dozens of local meals on wheels programs are a safety net across the state. March For Meals and Mayors For Meals bring recognition to the critical daily efforts of so many volunteers and staff members.”

As the problem of senior hunger in America is getting worse this year, Meals On Wheels programs across the country are also celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the inclusion of Senior Nutrition Programs in the Older Americans Act (OAA). The OAA is the primary piece of federal legislation that authorizes and supports vital nutrition services, both congregate and Meals On Wheels, to Americans age 60 and older.

To find out more information about MOWAG or to locate a chapter in your community visit www.mowaa.org/state_ga.