Month-Long March for Meals Celebration

Communities Nationwide Support Will Help to Fight Senior Hunger and Isolation in the Greater Rochester Area and All of Northeast Oakland County

The Older Persons’ Commission (OPC) in Rochester is excited to announce its participation in the 17th Annual March for Meals – a month-long, nationwide celebration of Meal on Wheels for our senior neighbors who rely on this vital service to remain healthy and independent in their homes. OPC’s celebration will be throughout the month of March and include celebrity meal deliveries, walk for meals donations, and community fundraisers.

For over 35 years, OPC has provided meals and other crucial services to local seniors. In the last 12 months, the center prepared, served, and delivered over 121,257 meals to seniors in need. Many individuals are dependent on this service, and OPC is proud to be a longstanding resource to seniors across Northeast Oakland County.

”The services we provide are a lifeline for seniors of Northeast Oakland County and the need has only increased over the last several years,” said Renee Cortright, Executive Director of OPC. “Together, we can keep our senior neighbors well-nourished, feeling safe and more connected to our community as they age.”

The national 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. Since 2002, community-based Meals on Wheels programs from across the country have joined forces for the annual awareness campaign to celebrate this successful public-private partnership and bolster support for those who are still in need.

“The month of March is a fitting time to not only celebrate the successful history of Meals on Wheels, but also bring us together to support a solution that will strengthen communities into the future,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “With 12,000 Americans turning 60 each day, now is the time to invest in these vital programs so that we can provide every senior in need with the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that will enable them to live healthier and independent in their own homes.”

For more information on how you can volunteer to deliver meals, organize a community fundraiser, or contribute to Meals on Wheels this March, contact Bethany Hagerman-Rossetti at bhagerman-rossetti@opcseniorcenter.org or 248-608-0856.