Wesley Meals on Wheel Fundraiser Supports Growing Need in Polk County

(Johnston, IA) Each weekday about 1,000 elderly, disabled or homebound people in Greater Des Moines count on Wesley Meals on Wheels for nutritious meals and valuable social interaction. According to national Meals on Wheels statistics, the cost of food and transportation has risen 20 percent from last year. Instead of scaling back services and instituting other cost-cutting measures like so many organizations across the country are doing, Wesley Meals on Wheels is doing the opposite. This year, the organization projects its total meals served in the Greater Des Moines area to top out at 260,000 – 10,000 more than in 2007.

The leaders of Wesley Meals on Wheels saw an opportunity to incorporate the program’s ties to food and transportation with a new fund-raising event on Thursday, Oct. 23, called “An Extraordinary Meal on Wheels.” The moveable feast included three venues, three area restaurants and three excellent Iowa wineries. The evening began at Wesley’s home office in Johnston and continued with motor coaches transporting the 117 attendees to Prairie Moon Winery in Ames followed by Snus Hill Winery in Madrid. The menu included food by Trostel’s Greenbriar, Phat Chefs and Romano’s Macaroni Grill (a national Meals on Wheels sponsor.) In addition to the two wineries featured as hosts, Adel’s Penoach Winery also presented a wine pairing. The evening culminated with a silent auction.

"We had strong corporate support and exceeded our expectations for the numbers that attended," said Wesley Director of Development Rae von Holdt. "The success of the event will allow us the funds to provide nearly 4,000 more meals for people in need in Central Iowa."

To donate to Meals on Wheels or for more information about the program, please contact Linda Loebach, senior nutrition program manager, at lloebach@wesleyservices.org.

About Wesley Retirement Services
Wesley Retirement Services, Inc. (WRS), is a nonprofit organization with an emphasis on providing services to seniors in a Christian, caring way, while promoting optimum independence and an active lifestyle. WRS owns and operates five continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) throughout Iowa (Wesley Acres in Des Moines, Wesley Halcyon House in Washington, Wesley Heritage House in Atlantic, Wesley Park Centre in Newton and Wesley The Village in Indianola).  In addition, WRS serves older Iowans at home and throughout the community with Wesley Community Services (Adult day care in Des Moines and Newton, hospice, home care and health services in Des Moines, Ames, Indianola and Atlantic and Wesley Meals On Wheels throughout Polk County.) For more information about WRS please visit the website at http://www.wesleyservices.org/.