SUPPORTING MEALS ON WHEELS
Cupper’s Nancy Kearns, partnering with Teamworks Training’s Ryan Miller and Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization’s Rob Miyashiro, helped kick off the annual Meals on Wheels 23 Days of Christmas campaign.
The Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization Meals On Wheels program provides thousands of meals each year for seniors and individuals who are not able to provide for themselves.
In support of the 10th annual 23 Days of Christmas campaign which launched on Wednesday, local businesses came together to each sponsor a day throughout December to help provide warm meals.
Businesses can also deliver the meals personally along with MOW volunteers.
The campaign strives to provide good service, operational funds for the year, keep meal costs low, as well as offer social interaction for isolated individuals.
Teamwork Training Ltd. began the campaign 10 years ago. With MOW funded strictly by donations and grants, Ryan Miller, CEO of Teamwork Training Ltd., knew that MOW was in need of assistance and wanted to find a way to help.
“We wanted to invest time and energy into something that we felt made a difference,” said Miller.
He also emphasized the importance of helping people remain independent.
The reason why the campaign has been so successful, Miller said, is because of businesses being able to directly connect with recipients from MOW and getting to personally interact with them.
Rob Miyashiro, LSCO executive director, is thankful for the businesses who stepped up to show their support with the campaign.
“We’re just so appreciative that people would give their time and money to help out such a great cause,” said Miyashiro.
He also praised Miller and the Teamworks staff support with the campaign, and attributes MOW survival due to Miller’s and Teamworks’ efforts to help out.
Monday is the first day for meal delivery. The campaign, which will deliver free meals Christmas Day, continues into the first week of January.
The campaign has raised over $170,000 for MOW in the past nine years and organizers hope to raise $30,000 this season.
The mission of MOW is to provide warm, nutritious meals five days a week to people in need.
MOW is a non-profit society that has been operating for almost 50 years.
Although a large percentage of clients are seniors, MOW is available for clients of all ages who need a hot meal, especially people who are affected by injury or illness.
People can also purchase gift certificates that go toward the cost of individual meals. The card contains $20 worth of products such as a package of coffee from Cupper’s Coffee & Tea, cupcakes from Crazy Cakes, and a gift certificate from Urban Grocer.
The gift certificate Christmas cards are available at Cupper’s Coffee & Tea, Crazy Cakes, Urban Grocer, Select People Solutions and Teamworks Career Centre and Training Institute.