MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA TO HOST MARCH 1 EVENTS ON CAPITOL HILL
Meals on Wheels America will host a series of events on Capitol Hill today, Tuesday, March 1, to kick off the 14th Annual March for Meals – a month-long celebration of Meals on Wheels designed to rally communities nationwide around the homebound and vulnerable seniors who rely on the vital safety net to remain independent in their own homes.
The day’s events are hosted by the Co-Chairs of the House Hunger Caucus, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA-02) and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-KS-02), Chairman Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ranking Member Claire McCaskill (D-MO) of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and Meals on Wheels America, the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger.
TUESDAY, MARCH 1 EVENTS
11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. / MARCH FOR MEALS EXHIBIT & CARD SIGNING
Hosted by the House Hunger Caucus
Rayburn Foyer, Rayburn House Office Building
Event will include Meals on Wheels gallery of photos and stories, card signing for constituents, brief speaking remarks from Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America and Members of the House Hunger Caucus to begin at approximately 11:40 a.m.
4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. / MARCH FOR MEALS ON CAPITOL HILL
Led by Meals on Wheels America
Corner of Independence Avenue and First Street, SE
Participants, including Meals on Wheels program leaders from around the country, will meet outside of the Cannon House Office Building at the corner of Independence Avenue and First Street, SE at 4:30 p.m. to “march” together along the East Front of the Capitol to the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. / MARCH FOR MEALS RECEPTION
Hosted by the Senate Special Committee on Aging
Dirksen G-11, Dirksen Senate Office Building
Event will include a reception with Meals on Wheels gallery of photos and stories, constituent card signing and brief speaking remarks from Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America and representatives from the Senate Special Committee on Aging to begin at approximately 6:30 p.m.
Meals on Wheels America created the March for Meals celebration in 2002 as a way to commemorate the month in 1972 when President Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act and established a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older. Since then, the March for Meals has grown into a full-scale awareness, fundraising and volunteer recruitment campaign involving and supporting the network of local Meals on Wheels programs. The 2016 March for Meals is sponsored nationally by Caesars Foundation and Subaru of America. For more information, visit www.marchformeals.com.