During the month of March 2024, LOA participated in the national Save Lunch campaign (formerly known as March for Meals) supporting Meals on Wheels programs like ours. Throughout the month of March, LOA joined the nationwide Meals on Wheels network to rally support for this vital service that provides millions of seniors with essential services to help them remain healthier and independent at home.
In our community, a multitude of community champions joined us by delivering Meals on Wheels. One of those community leaders was John Carlin of WSLS channel 10, who shared his personal story of delivering meals:
We want to thank the following Community Champions who volunteered their time to deliver Meals on Wheels and rallied support to Save Lunch:
- AARP Virginia
- Ayers Financial
- Blue Eagle Credit Union
- Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office
- Carilion Clinic
- Cox Communications
- K-92 Radio’s Monica Brooks
- Roanoke Gas Company
- Roanoke Vice Mayor Joe Cobb
- Salem City Councilman Hunter Holliday
- Salem Mayor Renee Turk
- Salem Vice Mayor Jim Wallace
- WSLS Channel 10’s John Carlin
National Save Lunch efforts in March commemorate the historic day in March of 1972 when the Older Americans Act was amended to include a nutrition program for Americans 60 years and older.
More than 50 years later, 12 million older Americans are still threatened by or experience hunger, and one in three seniors feels lonely. That is why Meals on Wheels programs from across the country are joining forces to raise awareness and support to ensure we can continue to address food insecurity and malnutrition, combat social isolation, enable independence, and improve health for decades to come.