News & Events

(Courtesy of WROC 8 Rochester, story ran 12/14/17.) By: Emily Noonan

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC-TV) - Meals On Wheels has served millions of meals to thousands of people for nearly 60 years. Every day throughout the month of December, the program gives away a holiday gift bag to participants in the most need. "It’s just a really nice thing and warms the participant’s heart,” Margaret Schweitzer, director of Meals On Wheels, says. About 350 'warmest wishes' gift bags containing toiletries, placemats, winter gear, and activities are delivered across Monroe County. The bags are put together by Meals On Wheels, Doyle Chevrolet Subaru, and generous donors. “Most of them (Meals On Wheels participants) are homebound, they have difficult time getting out so we will be going to their house," Schweitzer says. "Doyle will be going to door to door. On Thursday, Jason DeMocker with Doyle Subaru in Webster stepped in to make nearly 20 different stops. After six years, he says it’s become a family tradition. "It’s awesome to go out and see the people and see how excited they get when they get something,” DeMocker says. Joseph Reed, a Meals On Wheels participant, has been hesitant to get back out since he suffered a bad fall off his porch. "It’s hard for me to get out because I’m on a walker, so it’s hard for me to get around,” Reed says. He says it's nice knowing there is someone out there who cares. To volunteer with Meals On Wheels, you can call 585-787-TEAM (8326). Through Jan. 2, Subaru will donate $250 to Meals On Wheels for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased.

Meals On Wheels gave 350 Warmest Wishes holiday gift bags to some of its neediest meal recipients on Thursday, December 14. These bags contain toiletries, tissues, homemade placemats, and other practical items, and convey to Meals On Wheels participants that they are not forgotten during the holiday season. This delivery is also part of Subaru’s Share the Love Event. The Warmest Wishes gift bags are made possible by Meals On Wheels, Doyle Chevrolet Subaru, and generous donors.

During this year's Share the Love event, taking place from November 16, 2017 to January 2, 2018, Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased to the customer's choice of the four national charities with a minimum guarantee of $250,000. Participating Subaru retailers can select one or two hometown charities from their local community in which customers can direct their support. This year, more than 660 local charitable organizations are participating in the Subaru Share the Love event. With some retailers adding their own donations to the hometown charities, total donations by Subaru and its participating retailers are expected to exceed previous years. At the culmination of this year, Subaru hopes to exceed a grand total of $115 million donated since the creation of Share the Love to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the event.

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