March is here! March for Meals is a month-long awareness campaign commemorating the Older Americans Act (OAA) senior nutrition program’s creation on March 22, 1972. Henderson County’s seniors are expected to make up over 30% of our community within the next 10 years. The month of March is our opportunity to increase awareness on the need for an expanded senior nutrition program as the average lifespan of our seniors steadily rises. Our local Meals on Wheels for Henderson County serves an average of 80,000 meals a year to nearly 700 individuals. Despite this achievement, the incoming requests for nutrition services from our seniors never ceases and the program currently maintains a waiting list over 100 seniors long. We hope that bringing this issue to the forefront of our politicians and policy-makers’ attention will help us to serve the needy seniors in our community.

This March, we ask you to think about a parent, grandparent, or friend that you know who needs (or may need) higher-quality nutrition and socialization at some point in their life. What would that look like right now, and how would it change their life if they were required to wait 6-months or more before they could begin receiving this necessary service. Would they be able to age in their homes for an additional year? Would it help them to have someone to talk to each time they get their food? Could it possibly even extend their lifespan? We ask that you consider this, and bring it to the attention of your policy-makers and peers.

Join us on Monday, March 20th at the Council on Aging for Hendersonville County office at 105 King Creek Blvd. Hendersonville, NC 28792 to meet with some of our local and state politicians, volunteer and staff speakers, and food from our own HenDough! Special thanks to Mast General Store of Hendersonville for sponsoring the event!