Meals on Wheels of Mercer County Celebrates March for Meals
Meals on Wheels of Mercer County is partnering this week with local Community Champions, in celebration of the 2022 March for Meals Community Champions Week — honoring the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program, the federal legislation that helps to fund community-based programs like Meals on Wheels. Across the country this week, elected officials, local celebrities, and other prominent figures are delivering meals safely, speaking out for seniors and raising awareness for the power of Meals on Wheels.
“We are very excited about hosting so many elected officials and high profile, concerned citizens in our Champions Week meal deliveries,” said Sasa Olessi Montaño, chief executive officer. “This year we have returning Champions East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov, Princeton Mayor Mark Freda, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, and West Windsor Mayor Hemant Marathe. Also returning are Assembly Members Anthony S. Verrelli & Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Mercer County Commissioner Nina Melker, & MOWMC Board President Brandon Gaines. New this year are Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin, Mercer County Commissioner Kristin McLaughlin, Princeton Councilmember Leighton Newlin, & Bernie Flynn, CEO of Mercer Street Friends. We are so pleased that so many of our representatives take such an active role in the lives of their most vulnerable constituents.”
The annual March for Meals celebration commemorates the historic day in March of 1972 when President Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older. This year, Meals on Wheels programs from across the country are joining forces for the awareness campaign to celebrate 50 years of success and garner the support needed to ensure these critical programs can continue to address food insecurity and malnutrition, combat social isolation, enable independence, and improve health for years to come.
“We commend all of our 2022 Community Champions for stepping up in support of Meals on Wheels amid such an unprecedented time in our nation’s history,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “Despite decades of proven success and bipartisan support, funding for this program has failed to keep pace with the rapidly growing need for its services. With the nation’s senior population increasing dramatically, now is the time to support local Meals on Wheels programs — through volunteering, donating and speaking out — to ensure we are able to deliver for another 50 years.”
Meals on Wheels of Mercer County (MOWMC) is a comprehensive nutrition program committed to providing nutritious meals and related services, while easing the social isolation of our homebound participants. The goal of our services is to assist participants, who wish to remain in their homes, maintain independence, dignity, health, and well-being. Founded in 1973, we served close to 97,000 meals in 2021 to homebound individuals in Mercer County.
For more information on how you can get involved in Mercer County, visit www.mealsonwheelsmercer.org.
Allentown Introduces Daffodil Days Festival
Are you ready for spring? Then come on over to the historic village of Allentown New Jersey for its first-ever Daffodil Days Festival, held from March 26 through April 3. The festival is full of family-friendly events set amongst 3,000 daffodils.
A parade at noon on Saturday, March 26, kicks off a full slate of more than 30 activities (many free) and boutique shop specials. Master gardeners will answer your questions, and you can meet Revolutionary War heroine Molly Pitcher while enjoying the blooms. Take a “spin” in an indoor forest or a self-guided tour of the local scenic countryside. Savor a chocolate creation of your own making and create daffodil-themed craft projects worthy of your talents. From awe-inspiring tales of colonial times to a bike parade, art contest and walks through Allentown’s Heritage Park to enjoy a timeless story of Spring or support cancer research, there’s something for everyone. And our local merchants, crafters, and restaurateurs will be waiting to serve you their finest offerings in celebration of the season. Visit www.allentownvinj.org for a complete daily calendar of events.
Daffodil Days comes to Allentown courtesy of The Allentown Village Initiative (TAVI), a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose focus is on local history education and historic preservation, natural resource protection, economic development, and the arts and culture.
A quaint and quiet town of 1,800 residents set apart from the bustle of urban New Jersey, Allentown is conveniently located just minutes from Exit 7a on the New Jersey Turnpike, one hour south of New York City, and less than an hour north of Philadelphia.
