ARLINGTON, Texas — The Joe Barton Family Foundation is proud to announce that it will provide financial support to the Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties in their $3 million capital campaign to build a regional kitchen facility to serve the elderly and disabled citizens of both counties. The Foundation has pledged to raise $500,000 in support of the Meals-on-Wheels campaign.

This facility will initially provide nutritious meals to over 3000 people. The majority of these individuals are elderly citizens, averaging 85 years of age who live on an income of $12,000/year or less. Meals-on-Wheels expects to double the number of meals that are served in Johnson and Ellis Counties during the next 2 to 3 years. The new kitchen located in Midlothian will significantly lower their transportation and production costs, allowing Meals-on-Wheels to feed more people in need.

After an extensive grant selection process, the Joe Barton Family Foundation elected to fund the Meals-on-Wheels organization. The Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties has been serving the community for 31 years with assistance from over 650 dedicated volunteers.

“The Meals-on-Wheels organization has a proven track record in their service to the community,” said U.S. Rep Joe Barton, “I am thrilled at the prospect of expanding their services to additional people in need.”

The new building will be located in the TXI Railport development in Midlothian. Construction of the facility is scheduled to be completed by October 2010.

“We are grateful to the Joe Barton Family Foundation in their dedication to the elderly and for their support in making this project a reality,” stated Vinsen Faris, executive Director of Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties.

About the Joe Barton Family Foundation

Established in 2005, the Joe Barton Family Foundation provides substantial financial support to select charitable organizations within Texas’s 6th Congressional District to enable them to achieve aggressive goals that would have been otherwise unattainable. The intent of these large scale projects is to dramatically improve the quality of life for the affected individuals, leading to better lives and stronger Texas communities. www.JoeBartonFamilyFoundation.org

About the Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties

Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties serves the children of yesterday by helping needy homebound elderly and disabled people remain independent and healthy in their own homes by providing home-delivered meals, daily personal contact, and support for individuals and their families. www.servingthechildrenofyesterday.org