Meals on Wheels works hard to make the holidays as special as possible for meal recipients. The agency coordinates with groups and individuals to provide small gifts and treats for them, including handmade ornaments from school groups and special cards from children sharing messages of hope and love.

This year several organizations and individuals got into the spirit of “sharing the love” in a number of inspiring ways:

The students in the Upward Bound program at SUNY Fredonia decorated Christmas wreaths to share with DFMOW clients. They were on display in the windows and doors of our meal recipients throughout the holiday season, along with the Thanksgiving cornucopias that were created for them the year before.

DFMOW client Harry Shelton definitely believes in Sharing the Love! He hand-crafted over 200 plastic canvas ornaments to adorn trees and tabletops at DFMOW, WCA Home, Chautauqua Nursing & Rehab Center, and Chautauqua Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, among others.

Submitted Photo Harvest Chapel’s “A stitch & a prayer” knitting group, from L to R: Ann McIntyre, Christina Galardo-Schnarrs, RuthAnn Mrowka, and Mary Mills.

The talented crafters at WCA Home happily create hundreds of tray favors and cards for distribution to DFMOW clients not only at holiday time, but throughout the year.

Harvest Chapel’s “A Stitch and a Prayer” knitting group have stitched more than 200 beautiful “lapghans” to share with Meals on Wheels recipients at holiday time and client birthdays.

During the holiday season Meals on Wheels clients also received ornaments and cards from People Inc., Girl Scout Troop 20033 and Mrs. Christina’s eighth grade English class at Fredonia Middle School.

“For many of our clients, the holidays would be like any other day, spent at home alone reliving memories of the past,” said Debra Pacos, Executive Director, Meals on Wheels. “It is a privilege to see such true compassion and generosity in action, making the holiday season a joyous one for all.”

Since 2008, the Subaru Share the Love Event has helped local Meals on Wheels programs deliver over 2.2 million meals to vulnerable seniors nationwide. By purchasing or leasing a new Subaru during the Subaru Share the Love Event and selecting Meals on Wheels as your charity of choice, you can help deliver nutritious meals and other important services to seniors right here in Northern Chautauqua County.

A United Way Community Partner, Meals on Wheels also receives support for its programs and operations from the Chautauqua County Office for the Aging, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, area service organizations, churches and individual donors.

DFMOW needs volunteers to help us bring nutrition and independence to more of our senior neighbors. One hour per week is all it takes to provide life-giving assistance to area residents whose age or disability make it difficult to shop for or prepare meals. Please phone Dunkirk-Fredonia Meals on Wheels at 716-366-8822, or email to dpacosdfmow@netsync.net.