'March For Meals' to be celebrated March 26

: Lake County News reports; Posted On Thursday, 24 March 2011 18:50; 24 March 2011

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Saturday, March 26, senior centers around Lake County will host “March For Meals” to highlight the importance of Meals on Wheels programs.

Each senior center will hold a celebration, offering awards and thanks to those who sponsored and participated in the event.

March For Meals is an annual national campaign to raise awareness of senior hunger and to encourage action on a local level, including fundraising to support the programs.

Senior nutrition programs across the United States promote March For Meals in their local communities through public events, partnerships with local businesses, volunteer recruitment and fundraising initiatives, according to the Meals On Wheels Association of America.

The association said the campaign takes place in the month of March because it was during this month that the law was enacted that included Senior Nutrition Programs in the Older Americans Act.

An integral part of this initiative includes the pledge to end senior hunger in America by 2020, the association said. Local senior nutrition programs encourage as many people as possible during their March For Meals events to sign the Pledge and take action against senior hunger.

Mayors For Meals is a component of March For Meals that utilizes the involvement of local mayors. Mayors and other local officials deliver meals on one day in March to show their support of their local senior nutrition program. Local leaders delivered meals earlier this week.

Money collected at the local event will be submitted to the Feinstein Foundation for a contribution match to benefit local Meals on Wheels programs.

For more information, contact one of the local senior centers:

Highlands Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Road, Clearlake, 707-994-3051, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Kelseyville Senior Center, 5245 Third St., 707-279-2175.

Lakeport Senior Center, 527 Konocti Ave., 707-263-4218, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., www.lcseniors.com .
Live Oak Senior Center, 12502 Foothill Blvd., Clearlake Oaks, 707-998-1950.
Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, 3985 Country Club Drive, 707-274-8779, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , www.lucernealpineseniorcenter.com/ .
Middletown Senior Center, 15299 Central Park Road, 707-987-3113, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , www.middletownseniorcenter.org/ .