Local Officials Lend Hand to March on Wheels

ZANESVILLE, Ohio — Local officials are helping today make sure that seniors in the community don’t go without a hot meal.

The Muskingum County Center for Seniors says senior hunger is a major problem in the community and a basic need, and they are doing everything they can to help provide a solution.

“We are celebrating with the National Campaign for ‘Meals on Wheels’, we’re having our ‘March for Meals’ event. We are excited that the County Commissioners, [Representative] Brian Hill, and Mayor Jeff Tilton are taking part in helping to serve seniors. We have 17 meal routes and serve up to 600 seniors on a daily basis,” said Executive Director Ann Combs.

Combs emphasized the impact that involvement from local officials has on what they do and what it means to the seniors they meet.

“The support from our local officials for this program is so heartwarming. They are excited to be able to get out on this day where we celebrate this wonderful national program to get out and meet those seniors; it’s a very humbling experience. Sometimes when we deliver a meal to these folks, it’s the only person the may see,” explained Combs.

The menus that are included in the Meals on Wheels program are approved by the Ohio Department of Aging, through the Area Agency for Aging which Combs’ facility is a provider for. All the meals are approved by licensed dietitians and they rotate every five weeks throughout a quarter and then the menu changes so they are able to provide a variety of senior-friendly hot meals for them to enjoy.

Lastly, Combs adds that they are the only county wide issue on the May 2nd ballot. The levy is a renewal which would not increase taxes and the funding provided through their local levy is vital to keep their program going.

For seniors that are interested in taking part in the Meals on Wheels service, Combs asks them to call the Center for Seniors at (740)454-9761 for information.