More than 10 million (1 in 6) seniors in the U.S. face the threat of hunger and more than 15 million (1 in 4) are living in isolation. In San Diego alone, more than 3,400 seniors are being served annually by Meals on Wheels to address these issues. This summer, Meals on Wheels America, in partnership with the Ad Council, launched its first-ever national campaign to recruit volunteers to serve the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.
More than 10 million (1 in 6) seniors in the U.S. face the threat of hunger and more than 15 million (1 in 4) are living in isolation. In San Diego alone, more than 3,400 seniors are being served annually by Meals on Wheels to address these issues. This summer, Meals on Wheels America, in partnership with the Ad Council, launched its first-ever national campaign to recruit volunteers to serve the nation’s most vulnerable citizens. With the senior population projected to double by 2050, Meals on Wheels in San Diego County has joined the effort to help inspire a new army of volunteers to meet the growing need.
“We decided to adopt a new name and logo that better reflects the fact that we serve the entire county, including the rural backcountry areas.” said Debbie Case, President and CEO of the newly named Meals on Wheels San Diego County. “Additionally, the new look, web site and brand replicates a unified image which capitalizes on the National PSA campaign launched this week by Meals on Wheels America.”
The national integrated public service campaign, created pro bono by the ad agency, Anomaly, will invite America to “Do Lunch” by volunteering during the critical lunch hour period to deliver meals and a smile to seniors. The TV, radio, print, out-of-home and digital public service advertisements (PSAs) will tell the poignant stories of just a few of the 2.4 million seniors the national Meals on Wheels network serves each year, stories that celebrate their lives and show how inspiring, wise and charming they really are. To further highlight their stories, renowned celebrity photographer Mark Seliger – who has photographed some of our culture’s most famous faces from Kurt Cobain to President Obama – will be turning his lens to Meals on Wheels seniors and creating a series of portraits for the campaign.
“We rely on an army of volunteers to deliver meals to our homebound seniors. With the rosters of seniors needing meals rapidly growing, we desperately need more volunteers to help us serve the need throughout the county”, stated Case. “And, as important as the meal delivered is, for many seniors, the volunteer is the only person they may see all day. The delivery isn’t just about nutrition; it’s about the moments of human connection that nourish the senior and the volunteer alike.”
President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America, Ellie Hollander, said, “We’re so excited to be working with Meals on Wheels programs across the country to launch this national effort on the ground. We hope that by sharing just a few of our seniors’ amazing and heartfelt stories, we can inspire even more volunteers to lend a caring hand to the growing number of aging neighbors in need.”
To learn more about Meals on Wheels San Diego County, visit www.meals-on-wheels.org or follow the organization on all social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and more (easily access all links at the top of the agency’s web site above).
To learn more about the “America, Let’s Do Lunch” campaign, and to sign up to volunteer, visit www.AmericaLetsDoLunch.org.
