Meals On Wheels Broward

MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA AND THE AD COUNCIL LAUNCH NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO DRIVE VOLUNTEERS AND HELP SOUTH FLORIDA SERVE MORE SENIORS

More than 10 million (1 in 6) seniors in the U.S. face the threat of hunger and more than 15 million (1 in 4) are living in isolation. In South Florida alone, more than ten thousand seniors are being served annually to address these issues. This summer, Meals on Wheels America, in partnership with the Ad Council, will launch its first-ever national campaign to recruit volunteers to serve the nation’s most vulnerable citizens. With the senior population projected to double by 2050, Meals on Wheels South Florida is joining the effort to help inspire a new army of volunteers in South Florida to meet the growing need.

Every day, Meals on Wheels South Florida’s volunteers deliver thousands of meals along with friendly visits and safety checks to those who need them most. As important as the meal delivered is the fact that, for many seniors, the volunteer who delivers it is the only person they will see that day. The delivery isn’t just about nutrition; it’s about the moments of human connection that nourish the senior and the volunteer alike.  South Florida relies on an army of nearly 500 volunteers to deliver meals daily, five days a week.

The national integrated public service campaign, created pro bono by the ad agency, Anomaly, will invite America to “Do Lunch” by volunteering during the critical lunch hour period to deliver meals and a smile to seniors. The TV, radio, print, out-of-home and digital public service advertisements (PSAs) will tell the poignant stories of just a few of the 2.4 million seniors the national Meals on Wheels network serves each year, stories that celebrate their lives and show how inspiring, wise and charming they really are. To further highlight their stories, renowned celebrity photographer Mark Seliger – who has photographed some of our culture’s most famous faces from Kurt Cobain to President Obama – will be turning his lens to Meals on Wheels seniors and creating a series of portraits for the campaign.

“We’re so excited to be working with Meals on Wheels programs across the country to launch this national effort on the ground,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “We hope that by sharing just a few of our seniors’ amazing and heartfelt stories, we can inspire even more volunteers to lend a caring hand to the growing number of aging neighbors in need.”

To learn more about the “America, Let’s Do Lunch” campaign, and to sign up to volunteer, visit www.AmericaLetsDoLunch.org or email info@mowsoflo.org