FUNDRAISER MAKES THOUSANDS MORE MEALS POSSIBLE

Successful event aids increased demand for Meals on Wheels

Des Moines (Dec. 2009) – In Des Moines, 11 percent of our population is age 65 or older, a percentage that is rising as Baby Boomers reach retirement age. For WesleyLife Meals on Wheels, this aging trend translates into a greater number of older adults seeking the support of home meal delivery services to maintain health and avoid hospitalizations caused by malnutrition.

In light of the 8.5 percent growth this year in the number of people requesting WesleyLife Meals on Wheels, concerned citizens, philanthropists and local businesses joined together last month to raise enough funds for an additional 8,000 meals to be delivered to Central Iowans who are no longer able to adequately cook, shop or feed themselves.

WesleyLife Meals on Wheels, the largest program of its kind in the state, hosted its second annual “Extraordinary Meals on Wheels” event Oct. 15 to raise awareness and funding for Meals on Wheels. The event continued its “moveable feast” theme that began last year. Guests gathered at Sticks Gallery in Des Moines, for wine, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment and were then chauffeured to WesleyLife’s newest community, Edgewater, in West Des Moines for the entrée and dessert.

This year’s fundraiser featured special guest speaker Suku Radia, CEO and president of Bankers Trust. Strong corporate support for this year’s fundraising event included Kraus-Anderson, Wells Fargo and The Straub Corporation.

Currently, Meals on Wheels serves around 1,000 clients in Greater Des Moines each day, which adds up to about 266,000 meals served annually. WesleyLife bases fees for its home delivery service on an individual’s income and does not turn anyone away because of an inability to pay. With today’s challenging economy, more people are turning to WesleyLife Meals on Wheels for help. While at the same time, public funding for the program is becoming scarce.

"We are faced with limited economic resources from our usual funding sources, coupled with the fact of increased food costs and an increased number of clients,” said Linda Loebach, senior nutrition manager for WesleyLife Meals on Wheels. “We hear that many of the people we serve would not be able to remain in their homes without the meals we provide. We are very excited to be able to provide more people with daily nutritious meals delivered by a friendly face thanks to the success of this fundraiser.”

WesleyLife is committed to helping older adults live healthy lives – wherever they call home. In addition to offering retirement living, WesleyLife offers several community-based services such as Meals on Wheels. To donate to Meals on Wheels or for more information about the program, please contact Linda Loebach, at lloebach@wesleyservices.org.

About WesleyLife

WesleyLife (formerly Wesley Retirement Services Inc.) is a nonprofit organization with a Christian mission to support the independence, health and well being of older adults wherever they call home. WesleyLife operates six continuing care retirement communities throughout Iowa (Wesley Acres in Des Moines, Halcyon House in Washington, Heritage House in Atlantic, Park Centre in Newton, The Village in Indianola, and Wesley’s newest community, Edgewater in West Des Moines). In addition, WesleyLife serves older Iowans at home and throughout the community with Wesley Community Services (adult day centers in Des Moines and Newton; home care and health services in Des Moines, Ames, Indianola and Atlantic; Meals On Wheels in Des Moines; and hospice and palliative care in Des Moines, Ames and Indianola). For more information about WesleyLife, please visit www.wesleylife.org.