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2024 "Pay it Forward" to Benefit
Robbinsville Meals on Wheels
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ - (March 22, 2024) - Mayor Dave Fried is proud to announce that Robbinsville Meals on Wheels will be the 9th annual “Pay it Forward” recipient when he delivers his State of Robbinsville Township address on May 14, 2024 at The Stone Terrace by John Henry’s beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Meals on Wheels has delivered more than 100,000 nutritious meals to homebound residents since being founded by former resident Josephine Parr in 1995. Regardless of the circumstances and in any weather, the Robbinsville MOW program has been around for nearly 30 years, helping homebound residents to remain independent, maintain nutritional health, and encourages its clients to live their lives with dignity.
“At its very core, Robbinsville Meals on Wheels is the personification of our mission to pay it forward,” Mayor Fried said. “Selfless service for those in need. We’ve been hosting this event for the better part of 10 years and our roster of beneficiaries over this past decade are truly deserving. Meals on Wheels and its team of volunteers spanning almost 30 years is truly special.”
The mission of MOW is to deliver nutritious meals provided by New Jersey-based Whitson’s Food Service to Robbinsville residents who have physical, emotional or social conditions that require a home delivered meal service. The clients may be homebound, chronically ill, convalescent or disabled. They may stay on the program for a few weeks, months or years. Meals on Wheels is a non-profit organization staffed entirely by volunteers that is funded by personal and corporate donations. It does not receive government funding of any kind.
Client requirements are that the individuals must be Robbinsville residents and be homebound/unable to prepare meals for themselves. There is no age or income requirements. Meal recipients’ range in age from early 40s to over 100. Funds are now being raised for Robbinsville MOW through C.A.R.E., the Township’s 501c3 charitable arm, as we join together to try and help this extraordinary cause.
“This is wonderful because with sufficient assistance our clients don’t have to pay and they don’t have to worry about there their next meal is coming from,” Meals on Wheels Executive Director Jodi Marra said. “I first got involved 10 years ago with my young son. I wanted to give back to the community. I tried the schools, the PTA, but I just didn’t feel as fulfilled as I did as a Meals on Wheels driver. Now I’m its Executive Director!”
Lifelong Robbinsville resident John Ward was Marra’s predecessor and still gets emotional when speaking about the program.
“There are so many wonderful stories,” Ward said. “Some clients just enjoyed having someone come to their door and to converse with. I am not sure it was even about the meals for some of them. They enjoyed the company, even for those few minutes. Everything is 100 percent volunteer. Everyone puts their own money out and everyone chips in to make sure these homebound residents are able to get a hot meal. Of the thousands we delivered, I do not think we missed delivering one single meal over all those years.”
The program pays $6.09 per meal, which are prepared and organized by our Senior Center kitchen staff and delivered by a team of up to 15 volunteer drivers. But thanks to generous contributions over the past year, the meals are offered free at this time. The program also offers an opportunity for important wellness checks for select clients.
“Depending on our financial situation going forward, we may ask our clients to pay a maximum of $3.50 per meal,” Marra said. “If clients cannot pay, we do not charge them. No one is turned away for financial reasons. Our volunteers generously give their time and use of their cars to make deliveries. It is a true team effort.”
Past Pay it Forward recipients include the Shepherd Family, Quilts for Comfort, Deborah Dauer, C.A.R.E., Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, the We Love Our R'ville Neighbors campaign, the Breden Family and the McLaughin family. Since 2015, those efforts have raised over $450,000.
Fundraising for this effort is now open and corporate sponsorships levels of $25,000 (Community Champion), $10,000 (Township Trailblazer), $5,000 (Hometown Hero), $2,500 (Township Partner), $1,500 (Beverage Sponsor) and $350 (We Love R’ville Neighbors Sponsor) are available (see flyer below). Individual tickets are $125, and $1,000 for a table of 10.
Kindly RSVP by May 3, 2024.
Please make checks payable to C.A.R.E. and send to:
2298 Route 33, Robbinsville, NJ 08691. Attn: Jodi Stephens. Please write "2024 Pay it Forward" in the check notes. To donate via PayPal, CLICK HERE.
Interested in becoming a Meals on Wheels volunteer? GO HERE.
Interested in becoming a Meals on Wheels volunteer? GO HERE.