Causes: Food, Meals on Wheels

Mission: Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties is a community service providing meals in a home or social setting. We are the largest, most dependable provider of nutrition in the two-county area.

Results: Rising fuel costs, increases in food prices, and aging equipment have resulted in a new focus on fundraising for our agency. In 2012 we introduced The Main Event, a dinner and auction to be held annually to help us underwrite the cost of meals that our clients cannot afford to fully pay for on their own. We have also actively worked with community foundations to assist with underwriting the costs of our client's meals so that we can continue to provide 1,500 meals per day in our two-county service area.

Target demographics: Home-delivered meals are available to homebound individuals of any age. Congregate dining is available to seniors age 60 and over who can access transportation.

Geographic areas served: All of Stark and Wayne Counties, Ohio

Programs: Congregate meals - to provide nutritionally balanced meals to those in a congregate dining setting (40,400 meals served)

home-delivered meals - to provide nutritionally balanced meals to those who are homebound and unable to prepare meals independently (322,539 meals served)