Mar. 23, 2019

Meals on Wheels of Lee’s Summit recently held joined forces with Mayor Bill Baird to prepare and deliver meals in honor of the 2019 March for Meals Community Champions Week. John McDonald, CEO of Lee’s Summit Medical Center also visited with volunteers to show his support.

Across the country this week, Meals on Wheels programs have 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.

“Every day, we feel so blessed that our volunteers and the Café staff at Lee’s Summit Medical Center work hard to deliver quality meals to seniors and the disabled in Lee’s Summit,” said Susie Newsam, Board President of Meals on Wheels of Lee’s Summit. “Today we were honored to have our own Lee’s Summit Mayor Bill Baird’s support as he loaded meal trays and made a few deliveries as well. We also appreciate the ongoing support and longtime partnership of Lee’s Summit Medical Center.”

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.

“We commend all of our 2019 Community Champions for stepping up in support of Meals on Wheels,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “With 12,000 Americans turning 60 each day, now is the time to invest in these vital programs so that we can provide every senior in need with the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that will enable them to live healthier and independent in their own homes.”

For more information on how you can volunteer, contribute or speak out for the seniors in Lee’s Summit, visit http://mow.lsmo.us.

In 1974, two Lee’s Summit residents, Lois Elbel and Linda Dempsey, recognized a need in their community. They saw friends and neighbors who were unable to grocery shop or prepare food for themselves, which impacted their quality of life. Lois saw the positive impact of a Meals On Wheels program in Indiana that delivered meals to her mother, and knew that a similar program could help those in Lee’s Summit.

Meals on Wheels of Lee’s Summit started with fifteen clients but has grown and now has served over 500,000 meals since its inception. Linda and Lois are still volunteering to help ensure Lee’s Summit community members have the lunch delivery they need. For more information, visit http://mow.lsmo.us or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MOWofLS/.

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