Fredonia Place staff delivers meals. Pictured from left: Debra Pacos, Executive Director, DFMOW; Carol Shrontz, Joan Will and George Tanti, DFMOW volunteers; Austin Goerke and Jackie Francisco, Fredonia Place volunteers; Eileen Ardillo, DFMOW volunteer.

Dunkirk-Fredonia Meals on Wheels (DFMOW) is proud to announce it has received a $5,000 grant from Meals on Wheels America for its participation in Subaru of America’s 11th annual “Share the Love” campaign. During the event held from Nov. 15 through Jan. 2, Subaru of America, Inc. donated $250 for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased to the customer’s choice of participating charities, including Meals on Wheels America, of which DFMOW is a member.

Activities held during the campaign included a Subaru Share the Love “Stuff the Trunk” event to benefit The Salvation Army of Dunkirk on Nov. 28. Volunteers and board members were invited to stuff the trunk of a Subaru Outback to help The Salvation Army fill holiday baskets for needy area families. In addition, Fredonia Place Assisted Living staff volunteered throughout the month of December and fulfilled the Christmas “wish lists” of several lucky DFMOW homebound seniors, personally delivering the gifts during a friendly visit.

“Although Subaru has partnered with Meals on Wheels of America for more than a decade this is the first time we participated in the campaign,” said Debra Pacos, Executive Director, DFMOW. “Subaru’s passion for giving back to local communities is inspiring and this grant will truly help fund our mission of keeping homebound seniors healthy and independent at home, where they want to be.”

“We also want to thank our board members, volunteers and staff for making our “Stuff the Trunk” event such a success,” said Pacos. “Special thanks goes to Fredonia Place Assisted Living staff and residents for their enthusiastic participation, as well as Margo Perrello, for lending her Subaru Outback to the cause.”

Since 2008, the Subaru Share the Love Event has helped local Meals on Wheels programs deliver 2.2 million meals to vulnerable seniors nationwide. During this year’s campaign, “Stuff the Trunk” events like the one held by DFMOW generated over 23,000 grocery bags full of additional food.

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 is in desperate need of 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.