SAGE Eldercare will be participating in the 15th annual March for Meals – a month-long, nationwide celebration of Meal on Wheels and the homebound and vulnerable seniors who rely on its vital safety net. SAGE welcomes local elected officials, police and fire departments, town administrators, civic groups, business owners, and religious leaders to take an hour of their time in March to deliver meals to local seniors.
SAGE’s Meals on Wheels is the oldest continuously run program in New Jersey, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2016. The program provides more than 46,000 meals to about 225 people in Union County (Berkeley Heights, Mountainside, New Providence, Springfield, and Summit), Essex County (Millburn and Short Hills), and Morris County (Chatham and Madison).
“The services that we provide the seniors in our area are critical; it’s not just a warm meal, but also a friendly visit, sometimes the only human contact a senior gets the whole day,” said Marianne Kranz, SAGE Director of Meals on Wheels and Home Support Services. “Together, we can keep seniors living independently, healthier at home and feeling more connected to their community as they age.”
Since 2002, Meals on Wheels America has led the annual awareness campaign in an effort to fill the gap between the seniors served and those in need that is widening due to increased demand with a rapidly aging population combined with declining public and private resources, and rising food, transportation and operational costs. This March, hundreds of local Meals on Wheels programs, like SAGE Eldercare, will reach out to their communities to build the support that will enable them to deliver nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks to America’s seniors all year long.
“March is a time for us all to rally around Meals on Wheels,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “Our ability to meet the needs of vulnerable seniors lies in the willingness and generosity of businesses, government and concerned individuals of all ages to contribute in their own way. It not only makes economic sense to enable seniors to stay healthy and safe at home, but it improves the health and vibrancy of our communities and our nation at large.”
For more information about the Meals on Wheels program at SAGE, or if you know someone who could benefit from the service, contact Marianne Kranz at: 908-273-5554 or email: mkranz@sageeldercare.temp312.kinsta.cloud.
About SAGE
Since 1954, SAGE Eldercare has been helping make the communities it serves amazing places to age. The organization provides a wide array of information, support, and services designed to help individuals lead the most independent and active lives possible. From helping with errands, to exercise classes, community programs, care planning, and home health care, SAGE’s expertise helps older adults remain independent in their own homes. SAGE is committed to being the leading provider of programs and services to meet the changing needs of older adults, their families, and caregivers throughout Union, Essex, Morris, and Somerset Counties. For more information, please call 908.273.5550 or visit www.sageeldercare.org.
About Meals on Wheels America
Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based senior nutrition programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. This network exists in virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, research, education and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
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PHOTO: The police chiefs of Union County were among the participants in the 2016 March for Meals at SAGE Eldercare. Participating in the 15th annual March for Meals, SAGE welcomes local elected officials, police and fire departments, town administrators, civic groups, business owners, and religious leaders to take an hour of their time in March to deliver meals to local seniors. SAGE’s Meals on Wheels, started in 1966, provides more than 46,000 meals to about 225 people in Union, Essex, and Morris Counties. For more information about the Meals on Wheels program at SAGE, or if you know someone who could benefit from the service, contact Marianne Kranz at: 908-273-5554 or email: mkranz@sageeldercare.temp312.kinsta.cloud.