WELCOME TO OUR BRAND NEW MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

With this issue, we kick off the new Meals on Wheels America monthly communication with our Members. This newsletter is intended to keep you up to date on all Meals on Wheels America, industry and peer program news to enrich your own knowledge and your program's success at meeting the needs of the seniors in your community. Please let us know what you think of it and give us your suggestions for making it better. Our aim is to make it an email you can’t pass up in your inbox!

WHAT’S STAYED THE SAME

Our new newsletter will keep you up to date on all the ongoing news and happenings that impact your planning, decision-making and program activities. It will also provide you access to the campaigns, tools, resources and grants that are available to you and every person in your organization to help you to be more effective and progressive.

WHAT’S NEW!

We’ve added a few features that we hope will make this newsletter even more valuable to you.

Introducing the instant-poll. Each month, we will be asking a new question of our Membership and sharing your answers from the previous month's question. We start off this month by probing how many Member programs currently have waiting lists. Feel free to submit your suggestions for future poll questions by emailing them to newsletter@mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
We also added an Industry Insights section to provide a place for sharing news that goes beyond our organization and our Members to present a wider view of issues that impact our world.
You will also find more stories about innovative Member activity to inspire you and to keep you posted on how your peers are solving the same challenges you face.
We invite you to send feedback, suggestions and input on the newsletter to our new mailbox, newsletter@mealsonwheelsamerica.org and we look forward to hearing what you have to say!

Our hope is that we succeed in reaching our goal to make this newsletter a “must read,” and we thank you for giving us the opportunity to try to make that happen.

NEW BRAND AND WEBSITE FOCUSED ON YOU

We’re sure that by now you’ve all noticed the big and visible changes we’ve got going on here. Late last month marked the launch of our new name, Meals on Wheels America, our new brand and our new website. What you might not have noticed yet is the expanded, centralized Membership section on the new site and, in particular, our Member Central section. This section is dedicated to keeping you, our Members, up to date on all the opportunities and resources that are available currently to you and to every member of your organization. Visit it now and visit often to take full advantage of its value.

Member Central is available to Members only. You can access it by logging in at the “For Local Programs” drop down menu on the top right-hand corner of every page within www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org. Once you’ve logged in, you will land immediately at Member Central and can get started exploring right away.

Examples of some of the tools and information available right now include:

Your complete March for Meals Toolkit and grant application information
All of the tools you need to support your use of the More Than a Meal Research Study when building your own case for support
Tools to help your program or State Association adopt the new Meals on Wheels brand as your own
The latest information on our 2015 Annual Conference and Expo, Sparking the Movement
All current grant opportunities
Advocacy tools that you can adapt for your own use
All current educational opportunities, including upcoming webinars
And much more!

Member Central will be kept current at all times and will serve as a single reference for all the great things available to you as a Member of the new Meals on Wheels America. If you need assistance logging into your Member account, please contact Eric Hardman at eric@mealsonwheelsamerica.org or 571-339-1605.

SPARK THE MOVEMENT WITH US AT THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE

We’re gearing up for our Annual Conference and Expo that will connect all Conference attendees, like you, with truly engaging speakers, courses and networking focused on the areas of most value to you and your organization. Together, we will prepare for the challenges ahead as we Spark the Movement.

Now is a great time to plan your trip to The Dolphin Hotel at Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Resort because:

Early-bird pricing is available! After July 1, full registration prices will increase. Register Today! (You’ll need to log in to your Member Central account in order to receive special Member-only pricing.)
This year’s destination is a perfect place to bring your family and extend your stay into the Labor Day weekend. You can lock in our special Conference room rate ($140/night + state and local taxes) for nights before or after the Conference by reserving your spot now!
You can take advantage of our discounted Disney Park Admission. Purchase tickets today by calling our Disney Ticket Reservation Center at 407-566-5600 or through our own Disney Ticket Microsite.

We look forward to having you with us at 2015’s premier gathering of your Meals on Wheels peers. Visit the Conference website frequently for updated information on registration, accommodations and agenda at www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/conference.

13th MARCH FOR MEALS PROPELS THE MEALS ON WHEELS MOVEMENT

During this year's Community Champions Week, we saw mascots, Olympians, mayors, Members of Congress, local celebrities and mounted police all out delivering meals and proclamations in celebration of your dedicated work and the seniors you serve. In total, more than 2,300 of these Community Champions participated and nearly 400 March for Meals celebrations across the country took place. As another successful March for Meals comes to an end, we’d like to thank you for your participation in this important nationwide effort to propel the Meals on Wheels movement forward – and direct you toward your chance to garner even more rewards for your efforts.

GRANTS UP FOR GRABS

We look forward to awarding all of you for your March for Meals activities and successes. The online grant application is easy to complete. Simply tell us about your March activities and report the campaign-related publicity and social media coverage you earned throughout the month. Every Member program in good standing that participated in the campaign is eligible to receive a grant, and we will give away as many awards as possible to recognize your good work. While you can start working on your application at any time and save as you go, you must finalize and submit it no later than Friday, April 17, 2015 to be considered.
LOG-IN TO SUBMIT YOUR GRANT APPLICATION

Grants ranging from $500 to $10,000 will be given to Member programs based on their participation and performance in the following categories:

Usage of Toolkit Materials Including Name and Logo
Participation of Community Champions
Other Community Events and Engagement
Outreach and Press
Clarity and Completeness of Written Application

SPECIAL STATE ASSOCIATION GRANTS

Affiliated State Associations are eligible for cash grant awards, as well. State Association awards will be determined by comparing effort and outcomes related to the criteria listed above with other State Associations. For more information, email membership@mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

Miss United States, Elizabeth Safrit helped deliver meals for Member program Cabarrus County Meals on Wheels. Photo via David Purtell from the Salisbury Post.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

CELEBRATE OLDER AMERICANS MONTH THIS MAY

Your program can easily take part in Older Americans Month 2015 this May with help from the Administration for Community Living (ACL). This year, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act (OAA), the focus is on how older adults are taking charge of their health, getting engaged in their communities and making a positive impact in the lives of others.

ACL helps you Get Into the Act by providing tools that you can use to promote this special month that include logos, posters, a sample article, a sample proclamation, an outreach guide and even an overview of Older Americans Month history. You can use these tools or create your own to take part in this national celebration. And, be on the lookout in the weeks ahead for advocacy opportunities and actions that we will be presenting for you to take on during Older Americans Month to speak up for your program and the seniors you serve!

ASSOCIATION UPDATES

WE ARE 1,000 MEMBERS STRONG!

For the first time in our history, Meals on Wheels America eclipsed the 1,000-Member mark earlier this year. In 2014, we added 187 new Members and saw 94% of our existing Members renew their Memberships, bringing us to an all-time high of 997 Members – compared to 858 a year earlier. Now, we’re happy to announce we’ve crossed this new threshold.

“This is a tribute to the value and service we offer our Members,” said Keith Greene, Chief Membership Officer. “We are living and breathing our mission every day: to empower local community programs to improve the health and quality of life of the seniors they serve so that no one is left hungry or isolated.”

Membership represents Meals on Wheels programs in all 50 states, along with five Member organizations from Canada. This distribution makes a wealth of experience and resources available to you through your peers.

The state-by-state breakdown of our current Membership was created earlier this month and is as follows:

Alabama – 5
Alaska – 14
Arizona – 20
Arkansas – 26
California – 85
Colorado – 19
Connecticut – 15
Delaware – 5
District of Columbia – 3
Florida – 35
Georgia – 26
Hawaii – 4
Idaho – 9
Illinois – 37
Indiana – 16
Iowa – 15
Kansas – 18

Kentucky – 9
Louisiana – 7
Maine – 6
Maryland – 10
Massachusetts – 25
Michigan – 47
Minnesota – 12
Mississippi – 1
Missouri – 22
Montana – 5
North Carolina – 36
North Dakota – 6
Nebraska – 2
Nevada – 9
New Hampshire – 5
New Jersey – 23
New Mexico – 4

New York – 42
Ohio – 42
Oklahoma – 11
Oregon – 16
Pennsylvania – 47
Rhode Island – 1
South Carolina – 20
South Dakota – 5
Tennessee – 13
Texas – 58
Utah – 7
Vermont – 23
Virginia – 27
Washington – 14
West Virginia – 55
Wisconsin – 38
Wyoming – 5

In addition, Members in 10 states have joined together to form affiliated State Associations that work together to strengthen individual programs within their states. We also set a new record number for the number of State Associations in 2014 with the addition of California and Ohio, and that number is still growing.

If you’re interested in learning more about the State Association in your state or starting a new one in a state where one does not yet exist, please visit our State Associations or contact Keith Greene, Chief Membership Officer, at keith@mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

The 10 official State Associations are:

California
Florida
Georgia
Kansas
New York

California

Florida

Georgia

Kansas

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Texas

West Virginia

California

Florida

Georgia

Kansas

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Texas

West Virginia

California

Florida

Georgia

Kansas

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Texas

West Virginia

California

Florida

Georgia

Kansas

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Texas

West Virginia

California

Florida

Georgia

Kansas

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Texas

West Virginia

North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Texas
West Virginia

JOIN US IN WELCOMING TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS!

We’re happy to welcome Allison Nalley, Manager of Grants and Foundation Relations and Shonda Andrews, Manager of Individual Giving and Special Events, to our Meals on Wheels America family. Learn more about their backgrounds and how they will apply their experience to their new roles below.

ALLISON NALLEY – MANAGER OF GRANTS AND FOUNDATION RELATIONS

Allison brings direct Meals on Wheels program perspective to our organization from her role as the Community Development Officer for Member program Council on Aging for Henderson County, NC. Allison was responsible for managing outreach and fundraising efforts for the local program as well as serving as the Congregate Nutrition Site Manager. Allison holds a B.A. in Sociology and she valued her time spent volunteering for the Girl Scouts and Children First while earning her college degree.

As our Manager of Grants and Foundation Relations, she will work as part of the Development team to submit grant applications on behalf of Meals on Wheels America, foster relationships with stakeholders and research new funding opportunities for Member programs. Join us in welcoming Allison and feel free to contact her directly at allison@mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

SHONDA ANDREWS – MANAGER OF INDIVIDUAL GIVING AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Shonda brings an administrative non-profit background to Meals on Wheels America through her former position as Executive Administrator of St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children. There she managed contributions and digital communications platforms, and she planned special events for major donors. In her new role, Shonda will focus on helping us increase our donor base and implement new fundraising strategies here at the National Organization.

In her spare time, she’s the mom to an energetic two-year-old and volunteers with minority youth who are beginning the transition into college. Shonda holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Certificate in Meeting Planning from Temple University. Help us welcome Shonda to our organization and feel free to contact her directly at shonda@mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

MORE ON MORE THAN A MEAL

On Tuesday, March 10, Meals on Wheels America and AARP Foundation hosted a national briefing at the AARP National office in Washington, DC to reveal the findings of the groundbreaking More Than a Meal Research Study. President and CEO Ellie Hollander was joined by the study’s Principal Investigator from Brown University Dr. Kali Thomas, AARP Foundation’s President Lisa Marsh Ryerson and AARP Foundation’s Hunger Program Manager Maggie Biscarr.

The briefing also included a presentation by Lee Covington, the Executive Director of one of the study’s participating eight Member programs, Aging, Disability and Transit Services of Rockingham County in Reidsville, NC. Lee shared first-hand stories of the impact that the Meals on Wheels service has on his staff and operations. As a participating Member program, Lee’s staff contributed to this study by recruiting participants, administering surveys and collecting data. Other participating Member programs are:

Athens Community Council on Aging, Athens, GA
Broward Meals on Wheels, Plantation, FL
Community Meals, Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, Houston, TX
Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, Houston, TX
Meals on Wheels of Ocean County, Lakewood, NJ
Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, Providence, RI
VNA Meals on Wheels, Dallas, TX

The study compared the experience and health outcomes realized by seniors who receive daily delivered meals to those of seniors who receive once-weekly frozen meal delivery. The results can help us all to build a stronger case for support as it proves what we've known through experience for decades: that Meals on Wheels does, in fact, deliver so much more than just a meal.

Those of you who missed the Member Briefing Webinar delivered on February 25 can catch up by checking out the recording and presentation slides through the links below. The webinar recording describes the impact of Meals on Wheels service delivery on homebound seniors, highlights key findings and shares how you can use this valuable information in your own community.

Webinar Recording
Presentation Slides

You can access the entire More Than a Meal Member Toolkit – complete with executive summary, infographic, social images and more – at www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/MTAMtoolkit. All of these materials are for Members only and accessing them requires that you log in to your Member Central account to access. For help logging into your Member Central account, please contact Eric Hardman at eric@mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

We hope these materials contribute to your program’s efforts. Feel free to contact Linda Netterville, Vice President of Grants and The National Resource Center, at linda@mealsonwheelsamerica.org if you’d like more information.

MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES & BENEFITS

DRUMROLL, PLEASE – “SHARE THE LOVE” GRANT RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED!

For the seventh straight year, Meals on Wheels America was proud to partner with Subaru of America, Inc. on its "Share the Love" event. For every vehicle sold or leased between November 20, 2014 and January 2, 2015, Subaru donated $250 to the customer's choice of charity. And, our Members are reaping the benefits.

As part of our organization’s receipt of the Subaru funding, we have awarded $295,400 in "Share the Love" grants to 175 Member programs that partnered with Subaru dealerships throughout the campaign to serve, and raise awareness for, homebound seniors.

Whatcom Council on Aging of Bellingham, Washington was selected as the Grand Prize winner, receiving the the top award of $35,000. The program earned this recognition by masterfully using the "Share the Love" event to generate substantial awareness in its community in partnership with Dewey Griffin Subaru. In one of the many community activities, the public was invited to “Stuff the Trunk” of Subaru vehicles that were parked at local grocery store locations with shelf stable foods. “Stuff the Trunk” alone raised enough food and funds to provide several days' worth of emergency meals for their seniors.

In addition to the Whatcom Council on Aging’s Grand Prize, we are happy to announce the following additional top grant awards:

Second Grand Prize – $25,000
Berks Encore, Reading, PA

First Prize – $15,000
Meals-On-Wheels Greater San Diego, Inc., San Diego, CA
Corning Meals on Wheels, Inc., Corning, NY
Klein JCC, Philadelphia, PA

Second Prize – $10,000
The Heritage Area Agency on Aging, Cedar Rapids, IO
Meals on Wheels of Chemung County, Inc., Elmira, NY
Visiting Nurse Service Meals On Wheels, Rochester, NY

Third Prize – $5,000
New Opportunities, Inc. Senior Nutrition Services, Waterbury, CT
Missoula Aging Services Meals on Wheels Program, Missoula, MT
Meals on Wheels of Greenville, Inc., Greenville, SC

See a full list of all 175 grant recipients here.

“We greatly appreciate Subaru’s ongoing commitment to Meals on Wheels through its annual ‘Share the Love’ event,” said Ellie Hollander, Meals on Wheels America President and CEO. “Subaru of America and its local retailers across the country have truly become an extension of the Meals on Wheels family. Even long after this event concludes, Subaru helps us to deliver that warm meal, friendly smile and vital safety check to millions of America’s seniors.”

The 2015 “Share the Love” funds will continue to benefit local Meals on Wheels Member programs throughout the year through additional grant opportunities, Annual Conference scholarships and the sponsorship of the nationwide March for Meals annual awareness campaign.

Read our official announcement here.

CBS ECOMEDIA PARTNERSHIP TO CONTRIBUTE FUNDS AND VOLUNTEERS TO MEMBERS

CBS’s EcoMedia launched the pilot for its new consumer-facing platform this month, Viewers to Volunteers (V2V) that is directing valuable funding to Meals on Wheels America Member programs in four launch cities. The campaign uses a dedicated website to engage the public in watching, sharing and logging positive stories to earn money for selected non-profits — and, through our national partnership, Meals on Wheels America is one of them. In the coming months, stay tuned for updates as V2V expands nationwide.

The pilot launch of V2V took place in the markets surrounding Los Angeles, Dallas, Minneapolis and Philadelphia and aims to introduce the public to this new and unique concept. Later this spring, CBS EcoMedia will expand the program nationally, giving consumers the ability to choose which charity receives donations on their behalf, and to further engage by searching for, and taking part in, appropriate volunteer opportunities.

We're excited to see how V2V grows and expands, and we hope you'll follow their progress along with us. Check their website and learn more here.

EMPLOY YOUR OWN HR HOTLINE

UST’s ThinkHR Workplace offers expert HR advice to nonprofits like yours, while helping to save time and avoid costly risks and potential liabilities for your organization. The program provides live telephone support, staff training programs and other services to Members – all at an exclusive Meals on Wheels America Member discounted price.

ThinkHR Workplace allows you to place unlimited calls to senior-level HR professionals seven days a week, in addition to enabling you and every member of your staff to take advantage of hundreds of online training courses. You'll also have access to compensation tools, job description builders and a robust Q&A database of commonly asked HR questions.

As a Meals on Wheels America Member, the entire UST ThinkHR Workplace package costs just $75 per month (regularly $95) and you can get started through a free 7-day trial. Interested in learning more? Attend a FREE informational webinar for Members only on Wednesday, April 15 at 1:00 p.m. EDT that will deliver an in-depth live demo detailing ThinkHR Workplace’s features.
Register Today

Call UST at 888-249-4788 to get started or with questions. Mention that you are a Meals on Wheels America Member to redeem your special discounted pricing.

NEW OFFICE DEPOT PARTNERSHIP DELIVERS BIGGER MEMBER SAVINGS

We’re delivering big savings on all your online and in-store Office Depot purchases through a brand new partnership with the Meals on Wheels America Group Purchasing Program with Premier. Whether you’ve taken advantage of our past Office Depot discounts or not, signing up now can save you more online and at any of their more than 1,100 stores across the country.

GET YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND VOLUNTEERS INTO THE ACT!

Friends, family and volunteers of Meals on Wheels America Member programs can all save at any Office Depot location. They are all eligible to use your program's Office Depot Store Purchasing Card to save 10% off their entire purchase.

GET STARTED NOW

Start accessing these great savings today. Just make sure your program is enrolled in our Group Purchasing Program and has requested the Office Supply savings program.

If you’re not yet enrolled in the Meals on Wheels America Group Purchasing program, complete the application here and be sure to check the “Office Supplies” box.
If you’re already enrolled in our Group Purchasing Program and want to add the Office Depot discount, contact our Account Manager Erica Bentley at 704-969-1009 or Erica.bentley@officedepot.com and she’ll get you all set up!

Once your program is signed up you can request your Store Purchasing Card by filling out this application and faxing it to 888-438-9066. Please allow up to three weeks for processing and, when it arrives via email, feel free to share it with your friends, family and volunteers. For questions or assistance completing the application, please contact our Office Depot Account Manager Erica Bentley at 704-969-1009 or Erica.bentley@officedepot.com.

Questions about our Member Discount Program or our Group Purchasing Program with Premier? Contact our Business Services Manager Steven Skelton at steven@mealsonwheelsamerica.org or 706-436-3999.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Golden Age Center, Inc., CA
Ramona Senior Center, CA
Southern Indian Health Council, Inc., CA
The Salvation Army - La Verne, CA
El Monte / South El Monte Meals on Wheels, Inc., CA
Team, Inc., CT
The Sac and Fox of the Mississippi in Iowa, IA
Community Action Partnership Central IL Sr. Nutrition Prog., IL
C.E.F.S./Golden Circle, IL
St. Martin Council on Aging, Inc., LA

Ogemaw Commission on Aging, MI
Western Communities Action Network, MN
The Overflow Worship Center, NC
Meals on Wheels - Burlington County, NJ
Genesee ARC, NY
Major Care Ministries, OH
West Shore Meals on Wheels, OH
Clinton County Community Action Program, OH
Oklahoma Department of Human Services Aging Services, OK
Hazelwood Meals on Wheels, PA

Community Meals on Wheels, PA
RSVP of the Capital Region, Inc., PA
River Woods Senior Living, PA
Pike County Area Agency on Aging, PA
Meals for Friends, PA
Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability, TN
Champlain Islanders Developing Essential Resources, Inc., VT
ADRC of Racine County, WI
Walworth County DHHS - Meals On Wheels, WI
ADRC of Northwest WI, WI