Today’s guest blogger is Heather C. Johnson, Product Manager for The Financial Edge and FundWare with Blackbaud. Blackbaud is a regular supporter of East Cooper Meals on Wheels, with nearly 20 employees rotating the responsibility of driving two of our meal delivery routes each Friday. On a recent Tuesday, the company supported our operation by sending 28 employees to pack and deliver meals, and Heather was part of that experience.

During our 2012 Product Management kick off meeting, the Blackbaud Product Managers were able to participate in a team building volunteer exercise for East Cooper Meals on Wheels. I believe I speak for all of my colleagues in Product Management when I say that the experience was overwhelming. There were several things about this experience which surprised me and caused me to reflect. First, I was surprised (as were others) to see the portions of the meals we were providing to the recipients. Meals that in some cases were the only sustenance the recipient would receive the entire day, but that we also found would meet a fairly substantial amount of their nutritional needs. It truly makes one think about the excess to which many of us have become accustomed to with regard to food.

The second thing that surprised me was that no socioeconomic category is immune from needing this type of service. Our particular route included several upscale areas on Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island. But, we never know when sickness or other conditions could put any of us in need of such a valuable service.

Finally, I was once again reminded of the importance of family. Due to varying factors, for some, we were the only contact with society that many of them would have that day. Many of them need these meals because, not only are they unable to prepare them for themselves, they have no one close by to prepare meals for them. Having watched my grandmother care for my great grandmother and then my mother for her, it was incredibly moving to think that there are people in our world who do not have such a situation.

The service that East Cooper Meals on Wheels provides is invaluable in so many ways. Ironically, it seems that the nutrition, while so very important, is only a small part of the service they provide to their clients. They provide a social experience and care for those who might not otherwise receive these things. From a personal perspective, the next time my large, loud family gets together for a meal, I will remember this experience. I will push away from the table a little sooner, be a little more thankful for our health and even though there are many of them, and they are indeed very loud, I will be even more thankful I have them in my life.

Started in 2009 by Mickey Bakst, General Manager at Charleston Grill, Charleston Chefs Feed the Need connects East Cooper Meals on Wheels with local chefs and restaurants who donated their time and resources to feed our recipients.  The program helps East Cooper Meals on Wheels save on food costs and is a great way for the culinary community to give back.

Last week, RiverTowne Country Club provided 300 meals featuring meatloaf, gravy, potatoes, corn and cookies.  This is the first time that they have participated, and we're glad to have them on board as a partner in our fight to end senior hunger!

Thank you RiverTowne Country Club!

Everyone has a story, and Meals on Wheels is no different. The “We Are Meals on Wheels” campaign is all about telling the story of thousands of senior nutrition programs across the country.  We’re proud to be united in our goal of ending senior hunger.  Take a moment to check out this great video that highlights why the Meals on Wheels Association of America is so important, then consider sharing it with a friend so the story will continue to be told.

Today’s guest blogger is Ken French, who heads up marketing and events for Crews Subaru of Charleston and Crews Chevrolet. Ken volunteered with East Cooper Meals on Wheels three times during the 2011 Subaru “Share the Love” event and is looking forward to continuing his work with us in 2012.  Look for more guest blogs from our business partners in the future.

So we’ve been asked a simple question: Why support East Cooper Meals on Wheels?  The simple answer is “why not”. But you need a few more details, don’t you? Let’s start with the Subaru “Share the Love” event.  Let’s mix in a well-run organization at East Cooper Meals on Wheels, with good people filling a need. Let’s add in our desire to give back to our community in as many places as possible. Let’s stir with a rising appreciation for what is done by volunteers on a daily basis, and the warm feeling that what we get to do is meaningful. Top it off with a smile – yours and theirs – and know that today is better for what we’ve done. Crews Subaru of Charleston supports East Cooper Meals on Wheels? Yes we do – and why not!

Across the country, there are thousands of organizations similar to ours that are working to end senior hunger. Though we all operate a little differently, we are united by the Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) in our dedication and interests.

We are East Cooper Meals on Wheels, which served approximately 136,000 meals in 2011.

We are East Cooper Meals on Wheels, which does not charge for meals or operate a waiting list.

We are East Cooper Meals Wheels, which relied on 295 volunteers and over 29,000 hours of their time in 2011 to fulfill our mission.

These things make us uniquely East Cooper Meals on Wheels, but we also celebrate the strength that comes from sharing a common bond with all of our fellow MOWAA members—We are Meals on Wheels, so no senior goes hungry™. Tell us what makes you part of the Meals on Wheels family.

We deliver meals at no charge to recipients, so when a business like Noisy Oyster Seafood Restaurant offers to prepare a full meal once a month for the homebound seniors we serve, it has a huge impact. The first Tuesday of each month, Noisy Oyster arrives with meals featuring spaghetti, chowder, meatloaf and many other delectable delights. Our volunteers pack and deliver this special meal, and the recipients look forward to receiving it each month. This partnership has been in place for many years, and in 2011 alone, Noisy Oyster provided 3,232 meals. So let’s make some noise and give three cheers for the Noisy Oyster’s continued partnership in our fight against senior hunger.

This has been a week of being in between, as we have found ourselves reminiscing over newly created holiday memories and getting excited about ringing in a new year.

Many of our recipients are feeling the impact of being in between, too.  Their family members visiting from far away will soon be heading home.  They may be stretching their pennies for a few more days until their Social Security checks arrive.  Some of them may be struggling to feed the young grandchildren they are babysitting until school starts again.

This week, we sent out a 12 pound bag of groceries to each of our recipients to address the challenges of being in between at this time of year.  Each bag includes peanut buttery and jelly, canned vegetables, fruit, a pre-cooked canned ham and other staples to supplement the daily nutrition our recipients receive through each meal we deliver.  The bag is just one more way that we're working to end senior hunger in our community.

For many of our recipients, their beloved cats and dogs are like family members.  Through the We All Love Our Pets (WALOP) program, East Cooper Meals on Wheels is caring for those furry family members, too.  When volunteers deliver a meal to a pet owner, they often take along a small bag or can of food for the pet as well.  One significant supporter of this program is the Banfield Charitable Trust, which has awarded us several grants through the Meals on Wheels Association of America.

Now there's a chance for you to help, too!  You have until December 31 to return the favor to Banfield Charitable Trust and our four legged friends.  Just "like" the Banfield Charitable Trust Facebook page and one pound of pet food will be donated to feed our furry friends across America.

Tell us about the ways in which your own furry friends brighten your life!

Sometimes we get so busy taking care of others that we forget to take care of ourselves.

In the past five years, our meal delivery has increased by 79% and our recipient roster has increased by 55%. We now deliver an average of 350 meals each day, Monday through Friday, with 455 additional meals delivered on Fridays for the weekend. Our 295 volunteers give over 29,000 hours of their time annually.

As a team, we always put our recipients first. Making sure that our recipients receive daily nutrition keeps them healthy, and it allows them to continue living independently in their own homes. Hearing about how grateful each recipient is warms our hearts, and responding to each request for assistance keeps us extremely busy.

We need more people to hear our story, and we want to ensure that it is easy for people to access our services. We want to create ways for people to engage with us 24/7, so that no matter what time of day they are inspired to learn more, volunteer or give, they can connect with East Cooper Meals on Wheels.

With the help of Halfstache Graphic & Web Design , we’ve accomplished that by giving our website some much needed TLC. We hope you’ll visit often to see us “In the News,” to learn about upcoming events and to engage with us here on the blog.

We may be a small nonprofit, but we’re impacting the East Cooper community in a big way. We will deliver over 136,000 meals this year, and we do this because “We are Meals on Wheels, so no senior goes hungry™.” Tell us how you’re giving others a little TLC as part of the Meals on Wheels family!