Community Champions help raise awareness for CAPCIL Senior Nutrition and the needs of local seniors
CAPCIL Senior Nutrition celebrates the 16th annual March For Meals along with meals on wheels programs from across the country

[May 17, 2018]  Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois Senior Nutrition Meals on Wheels held a Community Champions Delivery event with Police Chief Paul Adams and Deputy Chief Matthew Vlahovich and Graue Inc. employees in honor of the 2018 March for Meals Community Champions Week. Across the country, Meals on Wheels programs enlisted elected officials, local celebrities and other prominent figures to deliver meals, speak out for seniors and raise awareness for the power of Meals on Wheels.

In addition to volunteering to deliver meals, Graue Inc. sponsored a day of meals, providing 171 meals to our Meals on Wheels clients and also donated pull pork that served 161 sandwiches!

“Together we can bring awareness to this program that not only delivers warm meals, but warm smiles and wellness checks to those participating in the program,” said Becky Leamon, Nutrition Services Director of Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois. “Because the program is only partially funded by Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland, help is needed to provide this service to those who are homebound and/or unable to prepare a nutritious meal on their own. We want to help them remain in their homes with dignity and respect.”

The annual March for Meals commemorates the historic day in March 1972 when President Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 and established a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older. Since 2002, Meals on Wheels programs from across the country have joined forces for the annual awareness campaign to celebrate this successful public-private partnership and garner the support needed to fill the gap between the seniors served and those still in need.

“This March, hundreds of local Meals on Wheels programs will rally their communities to build the support that will enable them to deliver nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks to America's most at-risk seniors all year long,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “With the demand for Meals on Wheels increasing along with our country’s senior population, we need to ensure that seniors are not forgotten.”

About CAPCIL Senior Nutrition Program: Meals are prepared at our central kitchen located at 1800 Fifth St. in Lincoln, IL. We provide meals to approximately 180 individuals in Mason and Logan County. We are always in need of volunteers who can help deliver meals on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday. Volunteers help us keep costs down so we can reach every individual possible who is in need of nutritious meals. Sometimes the meal deliverer is the only person that the participant may see throughout the day and they look forward to the warm, friendly smile just as much as the meal. Volunteering is life changing for both the volunteer and the recipient receiving the meal! Please consider volunteering in your hometown today. For more information on how you can volunteer, contribute or speak out for the seniors in Logan and Mason County, call 217-732-2159 or visit https://www.capcil .info/ 

[Katie (Alexander) Dalpoas
Director of Agency Development
Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois]