March For Meals - Cheer DE

Delivering Hope, One Meal at a Time

Fifty-some years ago, President Richard Nixon signed a measure into law that would change the landscape of senior care in America. By amending the Older Americans Act of 1965, he helped establish a national nutrition program for seniors 60 and older, ensuring that those who had spent their lives building our communities would never have to wonder where their next meal would come from.

Meals For Wheels participants Son-Djerry Comeus and Betsey Stang representing U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, Michelle Gibbs, CHEER CEO Beckett Wheatly, Susan Dubb, CHEER Board President Walter Koopman, CHEER Nutrition Director Amy Smith and CHEER Transportation Ed Miller

Each March, we honor that legacy through March for Meals, a campaign that raises awareness and support for the Meals On Wheels program. Right here in Sussex County, our Meals On Wheels program delivers over 1,000 meals daily to home-bound seniors, providing not just nutrition, but also a vital human connection that so many of our elderly neighbors desperately need.

More Than a Meal – A Lifeline

For many seniors, growing older brings unexpected challenges. Health declines, mobility issues arise, and families move away. A once active life can suddenly become lonely and isolating. In Sussex County, thousands of seniors live alone, many struggling with food insecurity and facing the silent epidemic of social isolation.

The consequences are dire:

• Social isolation increases the risk of premature death as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

• Seniors who feel lonely are at a 50% higher risk of developing dementia.

• Food insecurity among seniors leads to higher rates of malnutrition, chronic illness, and hospitalization.

Meals On Wheels directly combats these risks— ensuring that no senior is left hungry, forgotten, or alone. Each delivery is more than just a hot meal; it is a warm smile, a friendly conversation, and a safety check from a caring volunteer.

On March 24th, 2025 several of our local leaders came together as a community for CHEER’s annual March For Meals event. These Local leaders, elected officials, and other familiar faces from across Sussex County stepped into the shoes of our volunteers to deliver meals, raise awareness, and be a voice for seniors who need us now more than ever.

This event is a Call To Action—an opportunity for the Sussex County community to rally behind our aging neighbors and ensure that Meals On Wheels continues to be a lifeline for those who rely on it.

You, too, can be a part of the Call To Action:

• Volunteer to deliver meals—just one hour of your time each week can change a life.

• Advocate for senior nutrition programs—help ensure continued funding and support.

• Donate to CHEER’s Meals On Wheels Program—every dollar helps provide a meal, a visit, and a moment of comfort for a home-bound senior.

Honor, Support, Cherish

March for Meals is more than a celebration; it’s a commitment. It’s about recognizing that our seniors are not just a part of our past but an essential part of our present. They have shaped our communities, raised our leaders, and built the world we live in today. Now, it’s our turn to honor, support, and cherish them. By standing together, we ensure that no senior in Sussex County is left behind.