Meals on Wheels of Mercer County will take part in the nonprofit’s national initiative this March to raise donations for its charity-based nutritional program.
March for Meals has recruited local, small restaurants to participate in the month-long promotion sponsored by Meals on Wheels America.
Last year, the promotion contributed $13,810 to MOW of Mercer County, helping them to continue serving their community, which now includes Lawrence as of last year.
About five years ago, Meals on Wheels of Mercer County decided to use this initiative to highlight the issue of senior hunger in their community.
Their slogan, “Dine Out to Stamp Out Senior Hunger,” is meant to bring to people’s attention the nearly 553 participants that MOW served last year, 88% of whom were over the age of 60 and 60% at high nutritional risk.
The funds that are raised by March for Meals will help subsidize meals for the people who can’t afford to contribute toward their MOW meals.
MOW has found restaurateurs to things such as specialty menu items, discounted products and a percentage of purchases towards donations..
Deciding what to feature for their March for Meals involvement is usually left up to the owners. Some of those establishments who have pledged their time and efforts have been doing so for years.
In Ewing, Café 72 will be having a specialty pancake for the month and Piccolo Trattoria will offer a special pizza. In Lawrence, Leonardo’s is participating during the weekdays during their early bird dining time. Many other locations will either be featuring a date that they will donate from or other special deals.
Robert Pluta, owner of Leonardo’s and lifelong resident of Lawrence, has been involved with the March for Meals initiative for about three years. Pluta stated that the initiative usually gets a good turn out on their participating days and encourages patrons to come out to donate to the local MOW.
“It’s a win-win,” he said. “It’s good for local business, and it’s good to support the cause.”
Pluta was involved with the initiative through the Lawrence Meals on Wheels, before they consolidated with MOW of Mercer County last year. Pluta is just one community member who has continued to support the local MOW.
Ewing’s Blooming Grove Inn is another business that will be featured this March. They will be donating $1 to MOW for every bottle of beer sold throughout the month, including all domestic and craft bottles.
“Say cheers, order a beer, it’s going towards a great cause,” owner Steve Jordan said.
What started out as six restaurants when MOW got involved with March for Meals has grown to nearly 25 throughout the county.
When travelling around town this March, look for the, “Proud Supporter of March for Meals,” sticker in the window to identify which restaurants have partnered with the initiative.
Also, there is a current list of participating restaurants in the county along with descriptions of certain offerings provided by specific establishments at the MOW of Mercer County website.
“All people have to do is go out to eat and either purchase the entrée item that’s identified or go on the specific day,” said Sasa Olessi Montano, MOW of Mercer County CEO. “It’s very, very easy.”
The Mercer County branch had its biggest gain of territory back in 2016 when they took over servicing Princeton, East Windsor, West Windsor and Hightstown, but their recent expansion has absorbed the Lawrence Meals on Wheels and their clients.
Last January, the Lawrence MOW branch that had been around since 1982 shut down to come under MOW of Mercer County’s management. All continuing Lawrence volunteers were transferred to MOW of Mercer County.
The consolidation had been in the works since 2018, according to the former secretary of the board and nearly 15-year member of Lawrence MOW, Mary Loetscher.
The Lawrence resident, who also served on the consolidation committee, explained that her branch had three major board positions that people were retiring from.
Instead of searching for replacements for president, treasurer and director, they decided it was in their clients’ best interest to merge with MOW of Mercer County and ensure that their service wouldn’t be interrupted.
“Mercer County Meals on Wheels has been very intent on making sure that our clients are taken care of and there’s no disruption from what they had before to what they have now,” Loetscher said.
She continues to deliver to her Lawrence clients on Wednesdays. At times she served nine clients and now attends to about seven.
“I wanted to keep participating, and they encouraged any volunteers of Lawrence Township Meals on Wheels [to join],” Loetscher said. “They made it very easy for us to change over because we got to keep our original routes…and that was a very accommodating thing for them to do to help us get acclimated.”
Delivering meals is only part of the MOW model. Socialization, pet care and helping out with personal errands are all aspects to the MOW volunteer position.
Along with delivering their meals, catered by Rider University and Gourmet Dining, the local MOW delivered 14,200 pounds of pet food last year to its clients.
Company and conversation are invaluable parts of the volunteer’s mission as well. Since many clients don’t even have a pet with them at home, a visit from a MOW volunteer may be their only contact that day.
“We have had people on our program for a very, very, very long time and that is success for us,” Montano said. “Once we start to serve someone, we usually serve them for the long haul.”
Volunteers prepare food for Meals on Wheels of Mercer County.,
