It is that time again! Time to gather your team for the Osceola Council on Aging’s (OCOA) annual March for Meals St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk to support Meals on Wheels (MOW).
The 16th annual event, scheduled for Saturday, March 12, will be held at Kissimmee Lakefront Park. Sponsored by the Kissimmee Utility Authority, the ‘fun run’ is held annually to raise money for MOW initiatives.
One of OCOA’s largest fundraisers, the mission is to raise money to help feed those in the Osceola community who are unable to prepare meals and feed themselves. Though demands have evolved based on the socio-economic needs of the Osceola community, the core mission is consistent; provide meals and services for community members in need, no matter what.
March for Meals is a national campaign created by the Meals on Wheels Association of America. Meals on Wheels America supports more than 5,000 communities across the country with Osceola County being one of the larger regions serving 25,000 to 30,000 meals each month. An estimated five million meals have been served to Osceola residents since the program’s inception.
The need for MOW donations continues to be critical with monetary and grocery items for both community food pantries (Kissimmee and now St. Cloud) at the top of the priority list.
“This past year and a half, we have seen an increase in food item demands due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Wilda Belisle, Senior VP of Meals on Wheels for the Osceola Council on Aging. “Meals on Wheels is much more than a meal a day. Delivering meals gives us an opportunity to also check on our seniors.”
According to the OCOA, there is a constant effort to recruit volunteers to support their MOW initiatives including drivers for meal delivery routes. Presently, MOW has more than 150 volunteers including realtors from the Osceola Association of Realtors, team members from the Supervisor of Elections office, the Solivita Group as well as the Rotary Club of Kissimmee West.
Anyone can participate in the March for Meals event. To register, go to www.osceolagenerations.org, or call 407-847-2144. ‘Day of ’ registration will begin at 6:30 am with start time scheduled for 7:30 am. Cost is $25 per person before March 1; $30, March 2-12, and $35 for day of event registration. Search ‘March for Meals’ to register through Eventbrite.
The Osceola Council on Aging continues to collaborate closely with local officials on increased safety protocols due to COVID precautions. Those guidelines can be found at: osceolagenerations.org/march-for-meals/.
Submitted by Osceola Council On Aging
