Business leaders donate $11,000 to Meals on Wheels

(ROCKWALL, TX – October 26, 2017) 100 Business Leaders of Rockwall County delivered checks and cash donations totaling $11,000 to Meals on Wheels of Rockwall County on Wednesday, Oct. 25. The group brings together 100 or more business leaders several times per year to hear presentations from local nonprofits. After each pitch, the business leaders select one of the nonprofits to contribute to financially, and each member donates $100 to that nonprofit.

Meals on Wheels won over the hearts of the group members with its presentation on emergency food boxes for the homebound elderly they serve throughout the county. The boxes contain eight days’ worth of food for the seniors to store away for use during the winter months, when inclement weather may impede MOW from being able to deliver food to them.

“We’re so excited about this donation from 100 Business Leaders,” said Margie VerHagen, MOW executive director. “Just to know that our seniors are safe and healthy, our goal is to make this emergency food program happen, especially if we’re not able to get out and provide services for them.”

VerHagen said the emergency food boxes allow MOW to provide for the homebound seniors they serve in the event of an ice storm during the winter, which would impede their volunteers from going out to deliver meals. The boxes contain foods like peanut butter, tuna, soup, crackers, powdered milk and canned fruits and vegetables, so even if seniors were without electricity they would not go hungry.

“Our kitchens are closed when the schools are closed due to inclement weather, so we had to have a plan in place. That’s how all of this came about,” she said.

VerHagen said they plan to assemble and deliver 400 emergency food boxes on Saturday, Nov. 11.

By Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News. Photo by Blue Ribbon News.
Our monthly print edition is delivered free to 19,000+ homes in Rockwall and Heath, TX.