Mayors fight hunger; serve Meals On Wheels

MAT-SU — A Mat-Su Borough Assembly member and representatives from the mayors offices in Houston, the Mat-Su Borough, Palmer and Wasilla participated in Mayors for Meals events around the Valley in March.

Mat-Su Assemblyman Noel Woods and assistant to Mat-Su Borough mayor Rachel Richardson were Mat-Su Senior Services. Houston Mayor Virgie Thompson was at Mid-Valley Seniors Inc., and a representative from Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright’s office was at Wasilla Area Seniors Inc.

They saw first-hand that program staff delivered more than meals. On March 21, they were on the front lines serving seniors. They helped to assemble the meals. Then they delivered more than 250 meals to seniors in the Mat-Su area. They have seen some of the faces of the seniors touched by the Meals On Wheels program.

During 2011, Mat-Su Senior Services delivered 45,674 nutritious meals to more than 240 eligible homebound seniors and disabled adults. Mat-Su Senior Services also served 24,895 congregate meals to more than 680 individuals, a nutritious noon meal five days a week.

For more information, to volunteer or to donate, contact a member of the Coalition of Mat-Su Senior Centers:

• Meadow Lakes Seniors Inc., 1210 N. Kim Dr., Suite A, Wasilla. Contact Sherri Rusher representative, at 357-3999.

• Mid-Valley Seniors Inc. 11975 W. Mid-Valley Way, Suite A, Wasilla. Contact Lorie Rounds, executive director, at 892-6114.

• Palmer Senior Citizens Center Inc., 1132 S. Chugach St., Palmer. Contact Richard G. Tubbs, executive director, or Rachel Greenberg, deputy director, at 745-5454.

• Upper Susitna Seniors Inc. HC89 Box 592, Willow. Contact Herman Thompson, representative, at 733-6200.

• Wasilla Area Seniors Inc. 1301 Century Circle, Wasilla. Contact Ingrid Ling, executive director, or Dennie Jaques, office manager, at 376-3104.

• Willow Area Seniors Inc., HC 89 Box 57, Willow. Contact B.J. Eldred, representative, at 495-5222.