Volunteers and donors make the wheels go ’round,’ literally, for Meals on Wheels Yolo County’s countywide senior nutrition services.
To honor the approximately 2,000 individuals who accelerated the work in the past 12 months, Yolo County Meals on Wheel will hold the 2nd annual “Driven To Be Heroes” recognition event this Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at downtown Woodland’s Heritage Plaza, located at 701 Main St.
“Heroes don’t have to wear capes or fly through the sky to contribute meaningfully to food security in Yolo County,” stated Joy Cohan, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Yolo County in a press release. “The valuable resources of time and funds generously provided by thousands of Yolo County residents annually make it possible for MOW Yolo to sustain and grow nutrition and socialization services for local, vulnerable aging adults. Our team cherishes this annual opportunity to engage the community in honoring these heroes for the lifeline they make possible for seniors to age in place safely.”
A classic car show highlighting vintage British and European vehicles with opportunities to win a chauffeured ride will be ongoing adjacent to the Plaza, supplemented by a fun photo booth activity and appetizers, treats, and festive beverages from the MOW Yolo kitchen. At 5 p.m., volunteers and donors, including 2024 Heroes of the Year Davis Sunrise Rotary, will officially be recognized from the stage. Winters Citizen of the Year and MOW Yolo Board Member Sandy Vickrey will provide remarks.
Keynote speaker for the celebration will be Becca Whitman, founder of Guide & Give, a philanthropic consulting and former director of Raley’s Food For Families. Jessica Hubbard, Executive Director of Yolo Community Foundation, will mark the opening of the “Big Day of Giving” pre-scheduled giving period on Thursday, as well, two weeks ahead of “BDOG Day” on Thursday, May 2.
Currently, Meals on Wheels Yolo County provides five nutritious, freshly prepared hot or frozen meals each week via doorstep delivery, as well as “Café Yolo” social dining locations, to approaching 1,000 seniors in nearly every part of the county, representing a more than 150% increase over the past two years.
Guided by the “Eat Well, Age Well” phase of the nonprofit’s “Operation Accelerate” initiative, the organization now operates two meal production facilities in Woodland and Winters and is placing increased emphasis upon fresh and local meal ingredients, medically-tailored meal options, and increased rural meal access for the most isolated seniors.
“With close to 50 meal delivery routes countywide primarily driven by volunteers, and 85% of our usual annual operating budget dependent upon private philanthropy or other non-governmental sources, volunteers and donors are at the heart of the MOW Yolo mission,” stated Cohan. “MOW Yolo’s success and the healthier outcomes for seniors that we make possible depend upon these heroes and their gifts. We hope that the community is as inspired as we are to recognize them this Thursday.”
To learn more about Meals on Wheels Yolo County’s mission to nourish and engage seniors in Yolo County, to donate, volunteer, or to connect with nutrition services, please visit https://mowyolo.org, email [email protected], or call 530-662-7035.
