North Canton Meals on Wheels to Kick Off 40th Anniversary Year at Volunteer Luncheon April 25

North Canton Meals on Wheels, an independent, non-profit organization providing nutritious, home-delivered meals in North Canton and the surrounding community, is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2013.

The agency, which operates out of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, will kick off the 40th anniversary celebration at its annual Volunteer Luncheon, scheduled for Thursday, April 25, at 1 p.m. at the church.

About 50 volunteers from the community help prepare, package and deliver the meals, and another 40 are on standby as substitutes when needed.

“Our volunteers have made the difference from the very beginning,” said Joanne Ballway, president of the agency’s board of trustees. “It’s only fitting that we officially recognize this milestone anniversary at the annual luncheon held in their honor.”

The seed for North Canton Meals on Wheels was planted in 1973 when a committee led by Rev. Harris Paulsen, then pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, was formed to meet the challenge of providing meals to homebound residents of the community. By November of that year plans were in place, and the agency was launched out of the North Canton YMCA. The agency moved to Holy Cross a year later.

The agency delivers two meals a day to clients in North Canton, northern Plain Township and southern Lake Township. The cost for delivery, which includes a hot lunch and a sack meal for supper, is $6 a day.

There is no age range or restriction, and customers are not required to be homebound.

“Anyone can request our delivery service, and in this economy 30 dollars for ten meals a week is a tremendous value,” said Debbie Griffin, program coordinator.

“Our meals are fresh and nutritious, and are prepared daily in our kitchen,” said Helen Stevens, the agency’s cook. “The food rivals that of many of the better restaurants in the area.”

The agency currently serves between 35 and 40 clients in the North Canton area but can handle more and is looking to expand its customer base.

“It’s important that people know we exist and are here to serve them,” said Ballway. “Our agency began as a ministry, and we’ve tried to maintain that perspective throughout the years.”

To request home meal delivery or for more information, call (330) 494-0366 weekdays between 9 a.m. and 12 noon, or email Griffin at ncantonmealsonwheels@hotmail.com. The agency is also online at the Holy Cross website, at http://holycrossnorthcanton.com/d12.