March for Meals in Eau Claire aims to continue upward donation trend
EAU CLAIRE — Eau Claire's Meals on Wheels program, run by the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), is spending the month of March increasing awareness of its program for seniors with the hope of boosting donations.
Called March for Meals, the month-long campaign promotes the Meals on Wheels programs nationwide. In Eau Claire last year, the program garnered $10,325 in donations, over double what it was four years ago.
'I think we've just honestly done a better job of getting the word out to the community,' said Eau Claire County's ADRC Director Linda Struck. 'In 2021, it was $3,150; 2022, $4,125; and 2023, $7,115.'
Meals on Wheels provides hot and cold meals for those who are 60 and over who are unable to prepare adequate meals on their own.
However, Struck said that 'it's more than a meal that you're donating toward. It's keeping people in their houses longer. It's a friendly hello. It's a wellness check. We have found people who have fallen.'
Struck said the suggested donation for recipients of the meals is just $5 a meal, but on average some people contribute more and some people contribute less. It doesn't cover the full cost of operating the program.
'The Meals on Wheels program does get some federal funding through the Older Americans Act, but it's not enough to fund to support the whole program [either],' she said.
When asked if she was concerned about the potential loss of federal funds, she said it was too soon to know anything or to cause alarm.
'We just encourage people to contribute what they can,' Struck said. 'We encourage businesses and individuals who want to donate to a worthy situation.'
In addition to donating funds, the program also offers plenty of volunteer opportunities. She said in 2023, they had enough volunteer hours that would have equated to having six full time staff members.
'We have paid staff too who cook, but then we also have volunteers who come in the kitchen and help us package the meals and maybe do some minor food prep,' she said. 'And then we have three paid part-time drivers.'
Struck said the need for the program has exploded since 2010.
'The 65 plus demographic has increased by 48 percent,' she said. 'And that is from now through 2040. It's supposed to increase by another 18 to 20 percent, so it's still climbing. We deliver to roughly about 450 people a day. Last year, we were just shy of 1000 meals for the year.'
To donate or find out how to volunteer, visit eauclaireadrc.org.
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