Subaru’s “Share the Love Event” inspires sharing stories of bringing food and compassion to local seniors

Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties has just won a grant from the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA)/Subaru “Share the Love” grant program. The winning essay, which follows this news release, describes how clients are impacted by caring volunteers that deliver meals. With daily contact, volunteers help clients deal with the loneliness that many feel, especially during the holidays. In some cases, volunteers may be the only person they see all day, and many become friends.

Meals-on-Wheels is now entering the next phase of the holiday competition – which relies on getting the most Facebook users to “Like” our story. Winning that portion of the contest could earn this Meals On Wheels program up to an additional $500.

The money comes at a critical time for this Meals On Wheels program, and the more than 140 other grant winners nationwide. The country’s economic downturn has made it more difficult to raise money to continue feeding our community’s homebound and other hungry seniors. Meals-on-Wheels plans to use the money to provide hot, noontime meals to the hungry elderly and disabled throughout the area.

The MOWAA/Subaru “Share the Love” grant is tied to Subaru’s Share the Love Event. The Share the Love Event will run from November 20, 2010 – January 3, 2011. Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to the customer’s choice of one of five charities, including MOWAA. For more information about Subaru’s Share the Love Event, click here

“These Meals On Wheels programs share love every day by bringing food and companionship to America’s hungry seniors,” said MOWAA President and CEO Enid Borden. “For the third year in a row Subaru has generously included Meals On Wheels in its Share the Love Event. We want the world to read these stories and find out more about what these amazing Meals On Wheels programs do every day to ‘Share the Love’ in their communities.”

“This is the season of giving and we are so thankful that Subaru has decided to give back to our program this year to help us deliver meals to our clients over the holidays,” said Vinsen Faris, Meals-on-Wheels executive director. “This grant truly is a gift.”

The next phase of this competition relies on getting the most Facebook users to “Like” this story. More than 140 “Share the Love” essays from programs across the country have been posted on MOWAA’s Member blog. The Meals On Wheels program with the most “Likes” will win an additional $500. Those placing 2nd through 10th will receive an additional $250. To “Like” the local essay submitted for this Facebook contest, click here and search Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties.

Meals-on-Wheels is projected to feed over 50,000 meals—lunch and breakfast—between Thanksgiving Day and the first of the New Year, serving 750 people each day of the week. If you are interested in volunteering, donating, or if you know of someone who could benefit from Meals-on-Wheels services, please contact the Meals-on-Wheels offices at 817-558-2840, 972-351-9943 or online here. Meals-on-Wheels is a community benefit organization serving the residents of Johnson and Ellis Counties for over 33 years.


About Meals On Wheels Association of America

The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the oldest and largest national organization in the United States representing those programs that provide meals to people in need. MOWAA’s mission is to end senior hunger by 2020. To obtain more information about MOWAA or to locate a local Meals On Wheels program, visit the MOWAA website

Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties WINNING ESSAY:

The holiday season is a time when most of us share the love with our family and friends. Meals On Wheels shares the love with our local seniors who would otherwise be all alone and hungry during the holidays. It’s only fitting that we are partnering with our friends at Subaru for the third year in a row for their “Share the Love” Event to raise funds to support Meals On Wheels. This is just one story of how we share the love here in our community.

Meals-on-Wheels client Otis Wilson of Waxahachie has endured multiple challenges throughout his eight-plus decades of life: medical maladies, the senseless murder of his son, and racial discrimination. But when his World War II military records were destroyed in a fire, he felt the honors his country would have bestowed – including medals he was entitled to receive – were just another part of the continual combustion of aspirations.  

But then a wonderful encounter with a Meals-on-Wheels volunteer changed everything.

Being a Navy veteran himself, Don Krebes learned of Wilson’s plight with the United States Army and set in motion a mission to restore his honor.

With the involvement of Texas Senator John Cornyn, he was able to retain some tattered documents validating Wilson’s bravery. Soon after, Wilson’s medals were presented to him, and he was overcome by emotion. “It seemed like a burden was lifted off me when I’d seen what was in those little boxes,” he said. “I was overjoyed.”  

Wilson now proudly displays six medals on the living room wall of his modest home.

“God bless Otis and God bless America,” Krebes said. “And God bless Meals-on-Wheels for having made this opportunity available to me through my humble delivery.”