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Helping Hands, and area mayors, are set to march for meals

Meal delivery will take place in Orillia and surrounding townships on March 21
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(stock photo)

NEWS RELEASE
HELPING HANDS
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Helping Hands announced today that it will be participating in the 17th annual March for Meals – a month-long, nationwide celebration of Meal on Wheels and our senior neighbors who rely on the vital service to remain health and independent at home. Helping Hands celebration will include the mayors of Orillia and the surrounding Townships of Oro-Medonte, Ramara and Severn assisting with meal delivery on Thursday, March 21, 2019.

”The services we provide are a lifeline for seniors of Orillia and area and the need is rapidly increasing,” said Shelley Cameron, Interim CEO of Helping Hands. “Together, we can keep our senior neighbors well-nourished, feeling safer and more connected to our community as they age.”

Helping Hands has been delivering meals in the Orillia area for over 25 years. The program has expanded to the surrounding townships and has over 11 active volunteers. The program includes both hot and frozen meals. Last year Helping Hands delivered of 12,500 meals.

The annual March for Meals celebration commemorates 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 garner the support needed to fill the gap between the seniors served and those still in need.

“Meals on Wheels provides needed meals across 181 communities across Ontario,” said Deborah Simon, CEO of Ontario Community Support Association. “Last year alone, over 3 million of these essential meals were handed out to Ontarians. It is important to note that government funding covers only part of the cost and that the rest is made up of charitable dollars and client fees. Most importantly, Meals on Wheels volunteers perform a valuable security check for isolated clients - a volunteer may be the only person a client interacts with on a given day. Those visits enable people to live healthier, independent lives in their own homes.”

For more information on how you can volunteer, contribute or speak out for the seniors in Orillia and surrounding area this March, click here.

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