Meals On Wheels of Sarasota kicks off the annual March for Meals

Each year, Meals On Wheels organizations across the nation unite in an annual fundraising campaign, "March For Meals" to benefit local programs. Meals On Wheels of Sarasota hosted a breakfast event to kick off the campaign to support homebound seniors, veterans, children and families in need in Sarasota. Dr. Christine Cauffield, CEO of Lutheran Services, Florida Health Systems spoke to a sold-out crowd at the Sarasota Yacht Club about the impact of hunger and isolation locally. She also addressed the increasing costs of health care when looking at the aging baby-boomer demographics. “Supporting the programs of Meals On Wheels of Sarasota means a cost savings for all of us,” she said. “A meal can make the difference between aging at home or moving into a nursing home or an extended hospital stay. Meals On Wheels saves lives.”

“We are grateful to Dr. Cauffield for taking the time to give a voice to this silent issue,” said Marjorie Broughton, Meals On Wheels of Sarasota Executive Director. “Our goal is to raise $100,000 this month so that we can continue to deliver healthy meals throughout our community.”

Following Dr. Cauffield’s presentation, a heartwarming video by photographer Daniel Perales captured a day at Meals On Wheels of Sarasota and filmed the volunteers preparing, packing, and delivering healthy meals, and the gratitude of the people who receive the meals. Several guests pledged to match funds and donate gifts as much as $5,000 to help meet the goal of this year’s March For Meals campaign.

Dr. Christine Cauffield has served as President and CEO of organizations providing integrated health services for children through seniors, including a corporation that provides in-patient, acute psychiatric care to seniors in crisis. She received her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology and completed her Internship and Post-Doctoral Residency at Harvard Medical School, where she specialized in geriatric neuropsychology. She currently is CEO of LSF Health Systems, the Managing Entity comprised of 50 Behavioral Health Care organizations that span a 23-county region in North Central and Northeast Florida. The network serves more than 150,000 clients annually with a budget of $140 million.

At Meals On Wheels of Sarasota, 540 volunteers help prepare, pack, and deliver heart healthy meals, six days a week, year-round, using their own vehicles and gas. Meals On Wheels clients, who range in age from 4 to 103, receive meals because they are physically or mentally impaired, and unable to prepare meals or go to a food pantry or grocery store.

RBC Wealth Management was the presenting sponsor of the breakfast event. Additional sponsors include Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Jim Hastings and Ralph Hall, Band, Gates & Dramis, P.L., Key Culinary Tours, Thompson, Taylor & Vernon Enterprises, and Wilde Automotive. Media sponsors include Sarasota Herald-Tribune, The Observer Group and Sarasota Magazine.

For more information about its programs or to donate, visit www.mealsonwheelsofsarasota.org, email info@mealsonwheelsofsarasota.org or call 941-366-6693.