Longmont Meals on Wheels of Longmont, Colorado celebrated its 40th anniversary during this year’s March For Meals celebration. As a special part of this 40th anniversary, the program also delivered its 1,500,000th meal. They partnered with Texas Roadhouse as a major functioning partner in their March For Meals campaign and their Mayors For Meals campaign. Texas Roadhouse encouraged patrons to make donations ranging from one to five dollars. As a part of the Mayors For Meals day, Texas Roadhouse allowed local government officials to greet and seat guests one evening, with 10% of that evening’s sales going to Longmont Meals on Wheels. The program also collaborated with the local newspaper to help spread the word about March For Meals and the program’s 40th anniversary.

Bringing in new volunteers was the name of the game for Riverside Meals on Wheels of Riverside, California for their 2009 March For Meals campaign. Riverside Meals on Wheels focused strongly on bringing in additional volunteers. Through local businesses, schools and other organizations, Riverside Meals on Wheels brought in 51 guest volunteers, with 32 new volunteers registered for March and April. The program partnered with 10 local businesses, that each made donations of $500 to $1,000, and two restaurants, who sponsored menu items for Meals on Wheels and made $1,500 donations. Riverside Meals on Wheels also did a great job with getting the word out: they received coverage in two local magazines, inserted a special pamphlet in their March 2009 newsletter for the March For Meals campaign and placed an advertisement for the campaign in a local newspaper.

Many Meals on Wheels programs did an excellent job with their Mayors For Meals promotions. Not many programs can say that not only did they have mayors or local government officials deliver meals, but also NFL football players. That is, however, precisely what the Gainesville-Hall County Meals on Wheels of Gainesville, Georgia did. The “Get in the Game” promotion included meal delivery by two NFL Atlanta Falcons, three local state-finals high school football players, and three Junior Falcons football players. FOX 5, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Gainesville Times all covered the Falcon deliveries. The program also partnered with the Chick-fil-A corporation, which donated 300 meals. These meals were delivered by the Gainesville United Methodist Church, which provided 46 potential volunteers. A city-wide promotion with the City of Gainesville involved the placement of bright green inserts in water bills, which raised $9,242.95 and an interest in volunteering.

The Mecosta County Commission on Aging brought in community members of all ages for their 2009 March For Meals campaign. A “Pennies for a Purpose” program with elementary school children raised money through simple change donations, while a “Bars for a Buck” candy bar drive brought in high school students to raise donations. University students raised funds through a “Money for Meals” collection, and the entire community had the opportunity to participate in a “Can the Van” food drive. A highlight of the March For Meals campaign was the “Share Your Love” Valentine dance. These events raised a total of $21,000 for the Mecosta Country Commission on Aging.

The Missoula Aging Services Meals on Wheels raised over $21,000 in their March For Meals campaign. The driving force in their campaign was their partnership with their local Southgate Mall. The Southgate Mall featured a large setup for the Missoula Aging Services Meals on Wheels, and even featured the program in the mall’s flyer. This March For Meals campaign also received a significant amount of media coverage, including television coverage of the Meals at the Mall celebration and Mayors For Meals coverage. The Missoula Aging Services sent out a direct mail appeal to their large donor base in early March as well, and wrapped up the March For Meals with a celebration at the Southgate Mall.

The Milwaukie Center in Milwaukie, Oregon raised $21,771.06 in their March For Meals campaign, $6,000 more than they rose the previous year. This tremendous increase in fundraising could be attributed to a variety of fantastic factors, such as the bright flyers advertising the campaign, the various business sponsorships, the partnership with a local restaurant that donated part of their Tuesday night’s sales in March to the program, and the collection baskets circulated at church services that were designated specifically for the Milwaukie Center. The Milwaukie Center also distributed meal tickets, through which people could make donations by filling out a ticket that could buy meals for one day, one week, one month or more. One of the most unique events included in the Milwaukie Center’s March For Meals campaign was a March For Mutts expo.

The MCHRA Meals on Wheels of Nashville, Tennessee raised a whopping $94,054.56 among their 19 Meals on Wheels sites. To kickoff the March For Meals campaign, all 19 sites put on open houses to raise awareness of their programs. These programs all used a variety of techniques to raise money during their March For Meals campaigns, including several bake sales, yard sales and other donation campaigns. The programs also raised money by sending letters to local businesses, which outlined some easy ways to raise money for Meals on Wheels through their employees, such as having a casual day. The item that drew in the greatest funds was a guitar raffle. The MCHRA Meals on Wheels also found a clever way to both show appreciation to their volunteers and display awareness for Meals on Wheels: the program distributed bumper stickers reading “These Wheels Deliver Meals” to their volunteer drivers.

The State College Area Meals on Wheels raised $31,275. The major event was a benefit dinner, which included both live and silent auctions and received aid from 24 corporate sponsors. Events at elementary and middle schools also helped draw in the younger crowd to the March For Meals campaign. And, to help Man’s Best Friend, the State College Area Meals on Wheels made a presentation to a greyhound rescue group about the pet feeding program.

Meals for the Elderly-- San Angelo, TX

Great food, Texas Hold ‘Em, Mahjong, jazz bands, games, door prizes, raffles and a silent auction-- Sound like a good time? How about all of those activities, plus $43,196.56 in raised funds? That’s a great time. Meals for the Elderly of San Angelo, Texas kicked off their March For Meals with a fabulous Mardi Gras celebration with 38 restaurant sponsors and 37 business sponsors, drawing over 900 people to the celebration. If the Mardi Gras celebration wasn’t enough, Meals for the Elderly also set up a “Meals for the Elderly” day at a local Chili’s restaurant. They also partnered with two Curves fitness facilities and 18 area schools, which together collected 12,353 lbs. of food for the Meals for the Elderly program. Meals for the Elderly also took advantage of a great online tool: Facebook. Meals for the Elderly set up a group for March For Meals, which allowed the members to interact with the program and stay up-to-date with the program’s events through wall posts, pictures and links. The Meals for the Elderly March For Meals campaign raised a total of $76,954.36, and recruited 62 new volunteers.

What’s a better way to celebrate March For Meals than to bring in some festivity from another March holiday-- St. Patrick’s Day? The Beloit Meals on Wheels of Beloit, Wisconsin asked various local restaurants to sell paper shamrocks for donations. The restaurants displayed posters advertising the promotion. These shamrock donations raised $10,000. Another successful part of Beloit Meals on Wheel’s March For Meals campaign was a “Meal-A-Month-For-A-Year” raffle, in which the winner won 12 $25 gift certificates to 12 different area restaurants.

Murder! Not the first thing one thinks of when you think of a benefit for a Meals on Wheels program but, sure enough, the Brigham City Senior Center Meals on Wheels pulled it off with the murder mystery dinner theater show, “Lei’d to Rest”. In addition to the murder mystery dinner show, a Spring Variety show brought in extra funds. These performances raised a total of $7,705.16.

Skagit County Meals on Wheels’ March For Meals campaign was jam-packed with outstanding fundraising events: a spaghetti feed kick-off, March For Meals parade, turkey shoot, Mahjong tournament, Bowling Bash, Olive Garden pasta dinner, Applebee’s “Dining to Donate” dinners, a dance at a local senior center and a March For Meals Cascade Mall walk. These events were circulated both by colorful posters and brochures (with the brochures featuring a donation form). The multitude of fun events paid off: the Skagit County Meals on Wheels (Burlington, Washington) raised $70,000 and recruited many new volunteers.

Boosting participation and awareness among children and students was the focus for Independent Living of Madison, Wisconsin. Seniors who received meals during this March For Meals campaign would be delighted to find their breads and desserts packaged in brown bags, cheerfully decorated by local elementary school students. Independent Living, Inc. also participated in an interview with the University of Wisconsin-Madison school newspaper, helping to spread the cause of Meals on Wheels to the University’s students. The University’s Marching band played when meals were delivered. Independent Living, Inc.’s March For Meals campaign raised a total of $5,370.