Mayors from all Pickens County municipalities are helping lead the way in Pickens County Meals on Wheels’ March for Meals. Pictured, from left, are Easley’s Larry Bagwell, Norris’ Odell Williams, Pickens’ David Owens, Celmson’s J.C. Cook, Central’s Mac Martin and Liberty’s Eric Boughman. Not pictured is Six Mile’s Roy Stoddard.

Support during March will help to address senior hunger and isolation across Pickens County

EASLEY — Pickens County Meals on Wheels (PCMOW) recently announced its participation in the 2015 March for Meals — a nationwide community-by-community celebration of the local Meals on Wheels programs that keep seniors independent in their own homes.

Mayors from all Pickens County municipalities are leading the March. On Feb. 23, they each signed a proclamation declaring March 2015 as March for Meals Month. Together, they are urging every citizen to take time this month to honor our Meals on Wheels program, the seniors they serve and the volunteers who care for them.

You can join the March. Visit www.pcmow.org, email info@pcmow.org or call Meta Bowers at 855-3770 ext. 303 to learn more. Scheduled March for Meals event will include:

Take us for a Test Drive: Have you ever wondered what meal delivery is like? See firsthand how simple and rewarding this experience can be. During the month of March, we welcome you to ride along with a volunteer during their regular delivery. Meal delivery begins at 11am and takes about 1and 1/2 hours to complete. Please contact us to make arrangements in advance.

Adopt-A-Senior: A $5 donation provides one individual with a hot meal, a safety-check and a smile. Or, help ensure we can serve our seniors hot meals five days per week by joining our Adopt-A-Senior program. Decide how much you want to donate and have it drafted from your bank or credit card each month. A $20 monthly donation ($240 annually) will provide more than 40 meals for deserving elderly clients.

Community Champion’s Week: Community Champions Week will be held during the week of March 16-20. Special emphasis will be placed on involving local mayors and other local elected officials as well as church, business and community leaders in all aspects of the program.

“Each year I am awed by the support our community provides,” PCMOW executive director Meta Bowers said. “Yet, at the same time, I am surprised by the fact that there are still so many that do not truly understand the importance of the work we do. The impact of Meals on Wheels goes far beyond the meal.”

March for Meals is a national campaign held annually during the month of March, initiated and sponsored by the Meals On Wheels Association of America to raise awareness of the struggles faced by our aging neighbors and to encourage action on the part of local communities. Hundreds of Senior Nutrition Programs across the United States, like PCMOW, promote March for Meals through public events, partnerships with local businesses, volunteer recruitment and fundraising initiatives.

“Our Meals on Wheels programs are on the front lines every day making sure that no senior is forgotten,” said Meals On Wheels Association of America President and CEO Ellie Hollander. “March for Meals is a time when communities can come together to stand with their local Meals on Wheels programs and ensure all seniors live a nourished lives with independence and dignity.”

Pickens County Meals on Wheels is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit. PCMOW services provide a continuum of care for the active, aging and homebound in all Pickens County communities. PCMOW relies on the generosity of the community it serves. Adequate funding and volunteers are critical to carrying out our mission of combatting the effects of hunger, loneliness and isolation on those living in Pickens County.

Stay up to date on all the March for Meals activities; like the organization on Facebook and follow on Twitter. Celebrate your contributions using #MarchForMeals and #MFMmoment.

The Meals On Wheels Association of America empowers community programs to improve health and quality of life to ensure that no senior goes hungry. More than 5,000 local Meals on Wheels Programs leverage a dedicated army of two million volunteers who day-in and day-out create an efficient and caring way to help America’s seniors stay independent, healthy and able to live in their own homes. For more information, or to locate a local Meals on Wheels program, visit www.mowaa.org