Meals on Wheels Spring Newsletter

Ending the Wait for Seniors

When cooking became too much for Edith, Meals on Wheels of Wake County was there to make sure her nutritional needs were met She is a true joy, and is deeply appreciative of the meals and visits she receives. As the population of Wake County continues to age, more seniors like Edith are facing food insecurity and struggle with mobility issues For many, cooking and grocery shopping are no longer feasible, leaving them reliant on external sources for nutrition

In Wake County, too many seniors are going withoutwithout meals, without connection, and without a feeling of security and independence in their own homes. The Raleigh area ranks 2nd highest in the nation for senior food insecurity, and the population of seniors continues to increase

Meals on Wheels of Wake County is dedicated to getting all seniors who are in need of services taken care of without incurring a waitlist However, the explosive senior population growth, increasing food prices, and looming threats to our federal funding (we are a 50% federally funded program) have us stretched to our financial limit to accommodate this need

Through the Eyes of a Volunteer

For over a year, Stanley Wright has been a dedicated volunteer, delivering meals to homebound clients in Garner When he first moved to the area, he had heard of Meals on Wheels but didn’t fully understand its impact

After discovering just how crucial the program is to the community, he decided to get involved and he’s never looked back. Stanley finds joy in seeing the clients' smiles when he arrives with their meals, and he feels truly blessed when they express their gratitude with a simple “thank you” for something that’s so easy for him to do.

When asked about the potential consequences of funding cuts or reduced services, Stanley’s response was heartfelt: “I can’t even imagine. People without family would be at risk They might get sick. I don’t want to see that happen.” For Stanley, delivering these meals is more than a volunteer shift it’s a way to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most

A Message from the Executive Director

Ashley C. McCumber

One of the things that I say too often these days is “it’s possible for two diametrically opposed things to be true at the same time ” Now that it’s Spring in N.C., the trees - especially the big Oaksare coming back to life and with this, they bring joy and anticipation of the beautiful green shade of Summer. However, it is also true that we’re about to suffer through a month of the green/yellow slug called pollen, which is the antithesis of joy.

To talk about the state of affairs at Meals on Wheels of Wake County this Spring, one must admit that we find ourselves very much in a place where two opposing feelings and realities exist. For all nonprofits right now, there is a great deal of uncertainty about our federal funding. Meals on Wheels receives 50% of our funding from Older Americans Act, as administered through the Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration for Community Living (ACL).

On March 26th, the federal Department of Health and Human Services moved, through a department-wide restructuring order, to eliminate the Administration for Community Living (ACL), a subsidiary established in 2012 to support disabled and aging people—part of a broader series of cuts that will see the firing of some 10,000 HHS staff HHS’ press release on the restructuring claims that ACL’s responsibilities will be redesignated elsewhere within the department, which has yet to issue further details or clarify its plans.

The Administration for Community Living was designed for “bringing programs together to make sure that there were efficiencies and synergies between aging and disability networks.” Eliminating the agency also means that its functions will be dispersed, leaving those of us serving seniors and adults with disabilities feeling underrepresented with no seat at the table.

Clearly, we do not know what the impact of the reorganization may be on funding, but any cut in funding would be harmful to the seniors we serve This would be the “pollen” I was referring to earlier

At the same time that we worry about the future of our programs, we must stop to recognize what makes our programs work and how they impact the lives of those we serve – and that is the thousands of volunteers who show up every day to support their neighbors

April is National Volunteer Month It’s impossible to overstate the importance of volunteers in our operations.

Each day 125 volunteers show up to make sure seniors are fed and safe. More than 2,000 regular volunteers show up each year.

Independent Sector reports that the value of an hour of volunteer service in North Carolina is $31 64 Using this number, volunteers to Wake- MOW contribute in-kind benefit to our operations in excess of $1 million annually, or 17% of our annual operating costs.

But that’s just dollars and cents. If you ask the volunteers and the clients, they will tell you the value extends far beyond what can be measured in monetary value. The measure is joy, connection, independence, dignity, and the knowledge that we all deserve to be seen and no senior should go hungry.

Because of the support we receive locally, it leaves me eternally optimistic that whatever “pollen” comes our way, we will continue to serve our community to the best of our ability and build friendships one knock at a time Thank you to all our wonderful Wake MOW Volunteers!

The Raleigh metro ranks second highest in the nation for senior food insecurity.

57% of the seniors we serve report living alone, facing food insecurity with the added burden of isolation.

45% of Wake County’s overall population growth comes from people age 55 and older.

12,000 more seniors turn 60 each day, with 7.4MM living below the poverty line nationwide.

More than a Meal

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97% of our clients report that our meal deliveries help them to feel better due to regular, nutritious meals.

98% of our clients report that MOW deliveries allowed them to continue living at their home.

98% of our clients report that they feel more secure at home due to the daily visit.

IN RECOGNITION OF GIFTS GIVEN IN TRIBUTE

FROM 10/22/24 TO 3/19/25

IN MEMORY OF IN HONOR OF

Ann Mannino

Ann Taylor Gonski

Arlene Turner

Arthur Kilmartin

Augusta Hamilton McLeod

Beryl Wickard

Betsy Byerly Scobie

Betty Griffin

Betty Laughlin Justice

Bob Savage

Carmello Iacone

Catherine Corleto

Connie Parker

David Spencer

Delray

Eliza Douglass

Elizabeth "Beth" Bailey Smith

Elizabeth Bartle

Elnora G. Richardson

Eric Spinella

Evelyn Teeter

Gloria E Bradley

Harold & Dorothy Pitta

Helen Cohen

Helen Hamilton White

Hugh and Bettie Voress

Ida O Lee

Ira Newton

Ivan Accola

Janet S Cumbee

Jettie Morrison Lee

Jim Cameron

Joan Martin

Joanne Webb Bass

Joe and Marvie Davis

Joe Fletcher

Joesephine Jagiello

Johanna Ganthner

John and Dotty Wilson

Josephine Johnson

Judith Moody

Judith Rhodes Moody

Kemper and Roberta Watson

Kenneth Miller

Margaret Roth

Marie Vassallo

Mathilda "Teda" Tucker

Mrs Elsie Koscso

Mrs Sadie G Seabrook

Odell Whitted

Parrish Womble

Pauline Spencer

Raul Cardenas

Rev Charles and Peggy Sisk

Richard Joseph Daigle, Jr.

Richard Widin

Rick A. Linthurst

Robert Alvin Bolch

Robert Cleland

Ruby Barbour

Russ Sutton

Ruth Gibson

Sarah Olive

Steven Kelley

Teresa Jones

Terrence Brown

Thomas R Albertine

Tl & Sukanya Subramanian

Tom Saunders

Vena Kathryn Scott

Verle Flowers

W,F & Lorelane Lee

Wayland Patterson

William and Jessie Ferrall

Winnie Wheelers

Yoly Munoz's Grandmother

Including Meals on Wheels of Wake County in your estate planning will help provide vital meals to homebound older adults, reduce food insecurity, and enhance their quality of life. Your legacy gift can make a lasting impact, helping to sustain and expand these vital services for years to come, ensuring that no senior is left behind.

Angeline and Bill Mills

Ashley McCumber

Backporch String Band

Becky Tilley

Betty Ray

Bill and Brenda Taylor

Bob Gothson

Brenda Jane Summers

Brynildsen Family

Cindy Avrette

Deane Irving

Doreatha Taylor

Dottie Thompson

Fred & Nancy Hutchison

Joann Phillips

John Meyer

Johnny Edwards

Larry Rappl

Liz Fuller

Marilyn Brodd

Mary Lethers

Mary Roberts

Michael and Deanna Jarvis

Nancy Randazzo

Nikki Heron

Penny & Fulton Breen

Randy Rutledge

Rev Ryan Wilson

Rosalinda Kelly

Sinella Family

Spinella Family

Susan & Bob Wool

Susan Poux

Talia Hedrick

Around the Wheel: The Faces of Meals on Wheels

Introducing Mrs. Alice, who turned 96 years old in February. Ms. Alice has been a member of MOW at the White Oak Friendship Cafe for the past 3 years. She grew up in the very same Green Level community and has watched the significant growth, expansion and development from farmlands to suburban neighborhoods

Ms Alice is an active, daily participant in the Friendship Cafe programs and enjoys daily exercise, yoga, Zumba, and 3-card Bingo When asked what else she might be doing if she didn't have the option to take the van to our site, Ms. Alice muses she would be sitting at home tending to her flower beds, but, without the socialization with her friends that she so loves!

No longer able to cook, Ms. Alice is grateful for the daily meals. She tells us that the Friendship Cafe is a wonderful outlet to meet other people and share in life stories - as she herself overcame the struggles of the Civil Rights movement She proudly says that, every day she wakes up, her intention is to make her community a better place!

“I got my first Meals on Wheels delivery today at 11:00 a.m. today. I w looking forward to it since this past weekend. It was delicious and was exceptionally well-balanced meal Beginning this January, my SNAP bene were reduced by half and I was worried about how I would be able to aff groceries needed for the month.

I want to thank you and everyone involved, including the volunteers a drivers. You folks make huge differences in the lives of so many, including I am so thankful for the Meals on Wheels program and I will enjoy all of delicious and nutritious meals to come Thank you, again You have made happy and supremely satisfied.”

- Gregory, a Meals on Wheels Client

Elected Officials: Our Community Champions

Meals on Wheels of Wake County

1001 Blair Drive, Suite 100

Raleigh, NC 27603-2030

(919)833-1749

wakemow.org

facebook.com/wakemow @wakemow

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