Many clients and those who pay their bills have asked whether we could keep their credit card information on file and then automatically charge their credit card each month. We have now set up a process to do that.
We now have an authorization form that will permit us to keep the credit card information on file (in a secure location) and charge the card each month for the amount owed for meals. Each client will be sent a bill so they know the amount of the charge and they will have adequate time to question a charge. This new capability will make payments easier for all who pay our food bills and will alleviate the need to mail checks. Please contact us for further information or to obtain the authorization form.
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Meals on Wheels will be hosting MILES FOR MEALS CHALLENGE, a "virtual 5K," but in the spirit of being virtual, you can pick virtually anything you'd like to do to show your support. Want to run 5K for MOW? Great! Want to swim laps? Perfect! Want to walk with the stroller? That works, too! Pick your favorite activity and do it anytime on May 22nd or May 23rd in support of Meals on Wheels.
How do you get involved?
Click the button below to register and mark your calendars! Our donors are amazing. We appreciate that during the pandemic we have continued to receive donations from individuals, companies and foundations that have allowed us to provide our food services to our clients during this past year. This has become even more important since so many of our clients have become more isolated and were unable to see friends and family.
According to information obtained from Meals on Wheels America, our nation’s population of citizens over the age of 60 is growing exponentially and expanding by over 12,000 people per day. One in four seniors lives alone, and half of these seniors lack the resources to pay for their daily needs. This problem exists even in our “wealthier” suburbs of Shaker Heights, Beachwood and University Heights. Hunger and lack of resources cause health problems and increased strain on our healthcare system. Seniors receiving food delivery report fewer falls and say they have better health. Our deliveries allow them to stay in their homes and maintain their independence longer. Their families report having peace of mind knowing that we have contact with their loved one on a routine basis. We are so grateful to all of our donors whose support allows us to continue to improve the health and well-being of our clients. If you would like to make a donation, click the button below for further instructions. Virtual LIVE Cooking Lesson Fundraising Event Monday, April 19, 2021 6pm - 7pm via Zoom $25 to attend Chef Kimberly Homan Rodriguez will demonstrate how to make a simple spring dinner in one easy lesson! Chef Kimberly has over 20 years of experience in the Cleveland restaurant scene and our clients love the new menus she is preparing for them. Now you can learn some of her secrets! We will send you the ingredient list and you can cook as you watch, or just watch and prepare your meal later.
Cooking with Kimberly will be held via Zoom on Monday April 19, 2021 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. The fee of $25 will help keep our clients healthy and independent. Click the button above to register and pay. You will receive the list of ingredients and Zoom link. Questions? Send them to info@mealsonwheelsshaker.org or call 216-991-6376. It seems like only yesterday that we were meeting to determine how to confront “the Virus”. Little did we imagine that we would STILL be dealing with it one year later! But we have successfully adapted and have ended this strange year continuing to provide fresh, nutritious meals for our clients.
Our new Food Service Director Kimberly Homan Rodriguez instituted new kitchen procedures so that we could handle food more safely. She also redesigned the menu so that we now serve a variety of nutritious meals prepared in our kitchen. Our drivers have new delivery guidelines so that they can deliver food safely to our clients while still checking in on them on a routine basis. We are receiving rave reviews about the new menus from our clients. We are accepting new clients to try out the new food offerings! Contact us at 216-991-6376 or click here to learn more. We are starting an optional new meal payment process. Now clients can allow us to automatically charge their credit cards each month. This will make payments easier for them and alleviate the need to mail checks. See details in another article. Our fundraising efforts are continuing. We are sponsoring two fun virtual events this spring. We will be Cooking with Kimberly on April 19, 2021 and holding a virtual 5K Miles for Meals Challenge the weekend of May 21-23, 2021. Sadly, we must say farewell to two of our Board members, Claudia Woods and Chrissy Pearl. Claudia has provided valuable and thoughtful guidance over the past four years. Her insight into the issues confronting us was always appreciated. We will miss her, but she will remain a friend of Meals on Wheels. Thank you, Claudia! And Chrissy Pearl, who joined the Board in 2019, will also be leaving us now that she has a full time job and an active toddler. She has volunteered to help with website updates and email marketing as well as keeping her present fundraising commitments. Thank you, Chrissy! We hope you stay safe and healthy, Paul Nickerson, President Meals on Wheels - Shaker Heights, Beachwood & University Heights Help support Meals on Wheels Shaker by participating in our upcoming Chipotle fundraiser! Place your order and pick up on February 27th between the hours of 4pm and 8pm at the Lyndhurst OH location and a portion of proceeds go to MOW. February 27, 2021 4pm - 8pm Chipotle 24651 Cedar Rd Lyndhurst, OH 44124 There are 4 ways to make sure your purchase is counted toward our fundraiser:
If you're ordering online or via the Chiptole app, here are detailed instructions for making sure your order is counted toward the fundraiser:
We are grateful for all of our volunteers — and we always have room for more! If you have a few free hours on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday mornings, we could use your help.
Retired? Empty-nester? Perhaps you and a friend could volunteer together. Being of assistance to others is an excellent way to give back and instill a sense of commitment to the community. We follow COVID-19 guidelines by checking temperatures and providing face masks, gloves and hairnets for the kitchen workers. Drivers also have their temperatures taken, and they must wear their masks when making deliveries. Preparing and/or delivering meals is easy, upbeat and rewarding. We also have opportunities for volunteers in the areas of fundraising, event coordination, finance, marketing, photography, and community outreach. If you're interested in helping out, simply fill out the volunteer form here and someone we'll reach out to coordinate with you. Our Volunteers are the heart of our organization. Without them, we could not have weathered the COVID-19 storm! A special thanks to Laura Rowan, Debbie White and Joy Kent who helped plan meal delivery while we were in quarantine. Laura and Kerianne Hearns (and her two children) assembled and delivered "COVID care packages", and they prepared our successful grant applications. Drivers Shirley Baldwin, Alan Gernsheimer, Nick Baldwin and Jane Baldwin helped deliver meals. Larry Kent, Paul Nickerson, Debbie, Shirley and Laura contacted each client every week just to check in to see if anything was needed. Joy contacted all of our loyal volunteers to find out who was willing to drive and to work in the kitchen when we reopened. Now that we are back to full service, many more volunteers have become involved. Kitchen volunteers include Laura, Debbie, Joy and Kerianne plus Irene Myerhoefer, Julie Brouhard, Janet Mack, Paul Mixon, Jean Gianelos, Jyoti & Shar Chakraverti and Desmond Johnson. Drivers include Shirley, Laura, Paul, Peter Moore, Barbara Adams, Kelly Taylor, Paul Shirley, Tom Adams, Marjorie Wiemels, Karina Ream, Paul Schendel, Paul Mixon, Cindy Oakley, Joe Farkas, Sarah Merrill, and Meg, Holly and Jed Hunter.
Interested in becoming a Meals on Wheels volunteer? Learn more here. |