BMW Hosts March for Meals Event

The BMW Zentrum played host this past Monday to nearly 100 Upstate area residents concerned about the issue of senior hunger. Enid Borden, President and CEO of the Meals on Wheels Association of America, was the keynote speaker and the event was coordinated by the newly created Meals on Wheels Upstate Alliance, whose members serve Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Pickens and Spartanburg Counties. Also taking part in the event were Missy Johnson and Bill Sweezy who publish the magazine “All About Seniors” and host a TV show by the same name.

The focus of Ms. Borden’s remarks were centered on the recently released senior hunger study, commissioned by The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) and compiled by researchers from the University of Kentucky and the University of Iowa. The results are staggering: in the mid 2000s, over 5 million seniors (11.4 % of all seniors) experienced some form of food insecurity and of these; 2.5 million were at-risk of hunger and about 75,000 suffered from hunger due to financial constraints. In regards to the results Ms. Borden said, “Hunger is a disease that we can cure today – if we work together.”
Senior hunger isn’t just a national issue – it hits home right here in the Upstate. Liz Seman, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels in Greenville spoke on behalf of the Alliance and stated that as an alliance of Meals on Wheels agencies, over 1.2 million meals were served to homebound seniors in 2008, more than 6,000 individual, church, civic and business volunteers were engaged and daily, Meals on Wheels agencies in the Upstate touch the lives of more than 5,000 citizens in need of a hot meal, the caring touch of a volunteer and the life-supporting services provided by the many organizations working in partnership with Meals on Wheels.

“I am very proud to unveil our new alliance and formally announce our partnership. We know that there are many folks who are in need and alone. By working together we can ensure that no senior will go hungry in the Upstate”.

MOWAA is the oldest and largest organization in the United States representing those who provide meal services to people in need. Additional information regarding the senior hunger study can be found at www.mowaa.org.

Meals on Wheels of Greenville enhances the quality of life of homebound individuals by providing nutritious meals, personal contact and related services. Meals on Wheels is not a United Way funded agency, but is supported by contributions from individuals, churches, civic groups, corporations, grants and foundations. For more information call 233-6565 or go to www.mealsonwheelsgreenville.org.