Can you think of something that you do 5 days a week for 12 months a year? Here at the Athens Community Council on Aging (ACCA), we are dedicated to our seniors and provide them support through services 5 days a week for all 12 months of the year! This year, ACCA is introducing the March for Meals 5K and 12K and it will be a Peachtree Road Race Qualifier. The 5K/12K symbolizes ACCA’s commitment to serving the community 5 days a week, 12 months a year. This is just one of the events the local Meals on Wheels program will be having during the month of March for the national March for Meals campaign.
March For Meals is a national campaign held during the month of March, initiated and sponsored by the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA), to raise awareness of senior hunger and to encourage action on the part of local communities. Senior Nutrition Programs across the United States, like ACCA, promote March For Meals through public events, partnerships with local businesses, volunteer recruitment and fundraising initiatives.
More than 300 meals are delivered each day in our community by local volunteers. ACCA’s Meals on Wheels program is just one of the many programs that ensures the needs of our seniors are met. Sadly, Clarke-County continues to have a waiting list of close to 100 seniors waiting and wondering when their next meal will be and how long it will be until they see a friendly face again. As many of you may know, Meals on Wheels is much more than just a meal. In addition to the nutritious meal delivered, each senior is checked on daily and receives a friendly visit - making the day feel a little less lonely. Enabling seniors to stay in their own homes means they remain happier, extend their independence and can stay connected to the communities and surroundings that provide them comfort. The powerful side effect of this is that seniors can stay out of expensive nursing facilities and hospitals – an outcome that saves taxpayers billions of dollars in Medicaid expenses alone. Every $1 invested in Meals on Wheels saves up to $50 in Medicaid spending!
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Our 4th Annual March for Meals 5K/12K will begin and end at ACCA on Saturday, March 29 with start times of 8 am and 9 am. The lead sponsors for this year’s event are Bank of America and the Frierson Group – Merrill Lynch. As always, the energy will be high and all proceeds will go directly to supporting ACCA’s Meals on Wheels program. Please register today to walk or run! Saturday, March 29th at 8 am (5K) and 9 am (12K). Visit www.accaging.org or www.active.com There are several registration options to choose from.
