Stand and Deliver
“The COVID-19 pandemic and rapid inflation have created a crisis for seniors experiencing loneliness and hunger across the nation,” said Jennifer Steele, CEO of Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern KY, and a member of the national board of Meals on Wheels America.
To help address these issues for older adults in the community, volunteers from Molina Healthcare of Ohio, in partnership with iHeartIMPACT and Meals on Wheels America, delivered meals to homebound seniors throughout Cincinnati and neighboring communities. This volunteer event was part of “March for Meals” on March 20 to commemorate the historic day in 1972 when a national nutrition program for seniors was added to the Older Americans Act.
This month also marks the first time since 2020 that SNAP benefits are reverting to their pre-pandemic formulas, making meal delivery and public/private partnerships more important than ever.
“We are so grateful for the support and partnership of Molina Healthcare of Ohio, iHeartIMPACT and iHeartMedia at a local, state and national level,” said Steele. “Together, we can deliver on the promise of providing so much more than just a meal.”
The event also served as a celebration of a $50,000 grant to support three Meals on Wheels programs throughout southern Ohio, provided by iHeartIMPACT, a division of iHeartMedia, on behalf of Molina.
The Meals on Wheels network continues to struggle with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty and unstable conditions. Funding from Molina and iHeartIMPACT has been imperative in addressing current challenges and building capacity for those programs, helping to drive long-term sustainability beyond immediate funding.
“Molina is committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves, and addressing hunger among our seniors is part of that commitment.” said Ami Cole, plan president for Molina Healthcare of Ohio. “We are pleased to partner with iHeartIMPACT in supporting the mission of Meals on Wheels of Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky.”
This grant will provide 5,000 meals and friendly visits to program members while also providing funding to upgrade kitchen equipment and support pet and social service initiatives.
“LiHeartMedia is proud to stand with Molina Healthcare and Meals on Wheels America to improve the health and quality of life of the seniors they serve so that no one is left hungry or isolated,” said DJ Hodge, Metro President, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh for iHeartMedia. “iHeartIMPACT’s mission is to improve communities one media campaign at a time, and we’re thankful for Molina Healthcare in their commitment to joining us in this goal.”