Caledon Meals on Wheels celebrates March for Meals

Bolton, ON, March 13, 2015- The Caledon Meals on Wheels (CMOW) Team has been hard at work preparing for their annual March for Meals event and they are pleased to report it’s been a resounding success so far. Caledon Meals on Wheels clients had been eagerly awaiting the surprise visits.

The March for Meals campaign, which is a month-long event designed to generate public awareness about senior and adult hunger and to celebrate the invaluable services provided by Meals on Wheels across Caledon and Orangeville. March for Meals is also intended to help recruit new volunteers from our community and to increase fundraising from local businesses and supporters.
March 11th marked the kick-off to several days in March for local dignitaries and businesses to accompany our volunteers in the daily delivery of hot meals.

Shannon Turnbull, Principal Broker for The Mortgage Centre in Bolton is the lead sponsor for the 2015 campaign. Her support of $1000 provided Shannon the opportunity to deliver meals in the Bolton area with Mayor Allan Thompson. Shannon’s motivation to join the campaign was twofold. One of her personal goals in 2015 was to give back to the community she has enjoyed for the past 14 years. The support she has received from her Caledon clients has been tremendous and she wanted to give back.

There are many worthy causes to support, but Shannon stated, “the elderly sometimes get forgotten and this was a chance to make a difference.”

Shannon found the experience rewarding. “It was a great experience, when you see the smiles that you bring to a person when you may be their only visit of the day, it means more to a Meals on Wheels recipient than just the meal they receive. It is a friendly face to greet them, someone showing them that they care. It is an amazing program”.

Local business owners also participated and supported the campaign. We thank The Naked Vine, Bolton Florist Inc., Orangeville Flowers and the Zehrs store for their support and for going out with our volunteers to deliver to 6 to 8 CMOW clients each.

The day would not have been complete without our local dignitaries. Caledon Mayor Allan Thompson, Councillors Annette Groves and Jennifer Innis as well as Orangeville Councilors Sylvia Bradley and Don Kidd joined in the fun. CMOW clients welcomed them into their homes and even put on some of their Sunday best!

Erin Woodley, a 1996 Silver medal Olympian was our guest celebrity. She made her deliveries proudly wearing her medal and was “honored to participate in the festivities”.

Topping off the day was Orangeville’s new radio station. My FM 101.5 was on hand with their cruiser and also went on the road to deliver meals.

Caledon Meals on Wheels’ Executive Director Christine Sevigny proclaimed the 2015 March for Meals a big success so far, and “the month of March is not over yet”! We are pleased to announce that Sylvia Jones MPP delivered on Friday March 13th to clients in Orangeville! Stay tuned for more in the following few days.

For more information about the program or to join, please call Caledon Meals on Wheels at 905-584-2992.