New Program Launching America, Let's Do Lunch™

BALTIMORE - July 12, 2016 - PRLog -- More than 10 million (1 in 6) seniors in the U.S. face the threat of hunger and more than 15 million (1 in 4) are living in isolation. In Maryland alone, more than 2900 seniors are being served to address these issues. This summer, Meals on Wheels America, in partnership with the Ad Council, will launch its first-ever national campaign to recruit volunteers to serve the nation's most vulnerable citizens. With the senior population projected to double by 2050, Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, Inc. is joining the effort to help inspire a new army of volunteers in Maryland to meet the growing need.

Every day Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland's volunteers deliver 5000 meals along with friendly visits and safety checks to those who need them most. As important as the meal delivery is, for many seniors, the volunteer who delivers it is the only person they will see that day. The delivery isn't just about nutrition; it's about the moments of human connection that is shared between the senior and the volunteer alike.  Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, Inc. relies on an army of over 2000 volunteers to deliver meals, typically between 11 am and 1 pm, five days a week.

The national integrated public service campaign, created pro bono by the ad agency, Anomaly, will invite America to "Do Lunch" by volunteering during the critical lunch hour period to deliver meals and a smile to seniors. The TV, radio, print, out-of-home and digital public service advertisements (PSAs) will tell the poignant stories of just a few of the 2.4 million seniors the national Meals on Wheels network serves each year, stories that celebrate their lives and show how inspiring, wise and charming they really are. To further highlight their stories, renowned celebrity photographer Mark Seliger - who has photographed some of our culture's most famous faces from Kurt Cobain to President Obama - will be turning his lens to Meals on Wheels seniors and creating a series of portraits for the campaign.

"We're so excited to be working with Meals on Wheels programs across the country to launch this national effort on the ground," said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. "We hope that by sharing just a few of our seniors' amazing and heartfelt stories, we can inspire even more volunteers to lend a caring hand to the growing number of aging neighbors in need."

"Our mission in Central Maryland is dependent on the good will of our team of volunteers.  We are always looking for new people to serve as the face of our organization and a lifeline to homebound seniors.  This campaign will be a great help in raising awareness around the need and the value of volunteering." said Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland's Executive Director, Stephanie Archer-Smith.

To learn more about Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, Inc. visit www.mealsonwheelsmd.org or follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mealsonwheelsmd)

To learn more about the "America, Let's Do Lunch" campaign, and to sign up to volunteer, visit www.AmericaLetsDoLunch.org (http://www.americaletsdolunch.com/), or follow Meals on Wheels America on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MealsonWheelsAmerica), Twitter (https://twitter.com/_MealsOnWheels) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mealsonwheelsamerica/).

About Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland

Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland is a nonprofit organization that enables homebound seniors to eat well and remain independent in their own homes. Our dedicated staff and volunteers prepare and deliver over 1,000,000 nutritious meals a year to homebound seniors and "eating together" programs in Central Maryland. But, Meals on Wheels is more than a meal-we also provide grocery shopping and other support services to help our clients maintain independence and peace of mind. To learn more, visit www.mealsonwheelsmd.org or call 443-573-0945.

Meals on Wheels America

Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network exists in virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America's seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.