Mary McNamara
Meals On Wheels Association of America
  Assistant Vice President, Membership and Communications
(p)703.548.5558
mary@mowaa.org

For Immediate Release

ALEXANDRIA, VA (May 13, 2011) - More than 60,000 Mother’s Day messages of hope were delivered to homebound senior moms across the country as part of the Meals On Wheels Association of America’s (MOWAA) second-annual “Meals for Moms” campaign. The Mother’s Day campaign focused on collecting personal messages for the holiday that were distributed by Meals On Wheels programs nationwide. Donations raised from this campaign will go into MOWAA’s “Meals for Moms Fund.” The Fund will help Meals On Wheels programs across the country feed homebound senior moms around Mother's Day the following year.

The vast majority of personal messages were submitted by the public at the campaign website, MealsForMoms.org. Nearly 40 Members of Congress also signed personal messages during the first-ever Meals for Moms card-signing event on Capitol Hill which took place on May 3. Those cards were distributed to homebound senior moms in the Districts of the participating lawmakers.

“Meals On Wheels is so grateful for everyone who helped to lift the spirit of lonely and homebound senior moms for Mother’s Day,” said MOWAA President and CEO Enid Borden. “Moms are the ones who raised us, they fed us and now too many of them are alone and hungry. Meals for Moms is not only a tribute to the women who have given so much to raise their children, it is also a moral obligation.”

MOWAA-sponsored research reveals a staggering six million seniors are facing the threat of hunger in America and the numbers are growing. The majority of those seniors are women. The Gallo Family Vineyards, a wine company located in Sonoma, California, was the prime national supporter of this year’s Meals for Moms campaign. Media supporters included RealSimple.com and AmericanTowns.com.

At mealsformoms.org, visitors were able to choose from a variety of flowers – including roses, tulips, and lilies – for the virtual bouquet they select to send with a message. Here are just a few examples of the thousands of messages sent to homebound moms across the country this year for Mother’s Day:

“I appreciate you, even though we haven't met. I am a mom now. I know how difficult this job can be. Thank you for being a mom, too.”

“Every day is Mother’s Day! I just want to let you know you are thought of all the time.”

“I am sending this greeting in memory of my beloved mom who died 13 years ago. I miss her every day. This is my way of saying ‘thanks’ to all mothers for their love, care and sacrifices. Have a great day!”

About Meals On Wheels Association of America
The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the oldest and largest national organization in the United States representing those programs that provide meals to people in need. MOWAA’s mission is to end senior hunger by 2020. To obtain more information about MOWAA or to locate a local Meals On Wheels program, visit the MOWAA website at www.mowaa.org.