Meals On Wheels America And Ad Council Launch National Campaign To Drive Volunteers

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - 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 South Florida alone, more than ten thousand seniors are being served annually 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 South Floridais joining the effort to help inspire a new army of volunteers in South Florida to meet the growing need.

Every day, Meals on Wheels South Florida's volunteers deliver thousands of meals along with friendly visits and safety checks to those who need them most. As important as the meal delivered is the fact that, 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 nourish the senior and the volunteer alike.  South Florida relies on an army of nearly 500 volunteers to deliver meals daily, 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."

To learn more about the "America, Let's Do Lunch" campaign, and to sign up to volunteer, visit www.AmericaLetsDoLunch.org.

About Meals on Wheels South Florida

Meals on Wheels South Florida is a private nonprofit organization providing hunger-relief services since 1985. Their mission is to end hunger across all ages with kindness, dignity and compassion.  Meals on Wheels South Florida serves more than 10,000 seniors and 5,000 children an estimated 1.5 million meals each year. Their comprehensive list of programs and services include: home meal delivery, community-based dining, meals for companion pets, grocery shopping assistance, nutrition education and emergency meals. For more information, please call 954.731.8770 or visit www.mealsonwheelssouthflorida.org.

About 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.