Springfield Recognizes Local Meals On Wheels 50th Anniversary

SPRINGFIELD, NJ-- SAGE Eldercare was recognized by the Springfield Township Committee for the 50th anniversary of its' Meals on Wheels program.

“On behalf of the Township Committee, I do hereby congratulate SAGE for 50 years of Meals on Wheels service and for their invaluable service to the township of Springfield and other surrounding communities,” Mayor Jerry Fernandez said in a statement.

44,000 meals are served annually to 250 clients in 10 Springfield-area towns. The Meals on Wheels program was founded in 1966, with funding from the Summit Junior League.

“What the Meals on Wheels program delivers is more than just a nutritious meal; it offers a friendly visit from a trusted friend and a watchful eye for the residents receiving meals," SAGE Eldercare Executive Director Angela Sullivan said in a statement. "The Meals on Wheels program at SAGE is the first to be established in New Jersey and we can also boast that we had the longest-running Meals on Wheels volunteer, for 47 years, in the country."

That volunteer will be honored posthumously during the Meals on Wheel's November 30th celebration.

A Springfield resident, Dorothy Linden, spoke highly of the program at the town meeting, according to a statement, saying, “My mom went to SAGE for many years and had Meals on Wheels delivered. It is a fabulous organization and I’d say to anyone who is a caregiver, it should be checked out. It really is a great organization."

Photo Caption (photo by Jennifer Hinger): The Township of Springfield MayorJerry Fernandez presented a proclamation September 27 to congratulate SAGE Eldercare for its Meals on Wheels 50th anniversary. Pictured (left to right) are: SAGE Eldercare Executive Director Angela Sullivan, Mayor Fernandez, and SAGE Eldercare Board President Kitty Hartman.