Senior hunger is an issue that Meals on Wheels organizations address daily by providing a hot, home-delivered meal to the homebound in their communities. Studies commissioned by The Meals On Wheels Association of America Foundation with the financial underwriting of Harrah’s Foundation conducted in 2008 and 2009 found that the rate of senior hunger is increasing nationwide and will continue to worsen in the future. For South Carolinians, the news is particularly grave. Research found that seniors living in the South are at the greatest risk and of the ten states having the highest rate of senior hunger risk, South Carolina ranked second.

“Being the number two state in the nation with regard to senior hunger is a distinction we are working hard to change,” stated Meg Benko, executive director of Pickens County Meals on Wheels. “Bringing awareness to the size and seriousness of the issue is the first step to fighting back,” Benko said.

A cross-county caravan called, “Share the Love” scheduled for Friday, March 18th is designed to do just that. Meals on Wheels organizations from five counties including Spartanburg, Cherokee, Anderson, Greenville and Pickens are teaming up to heighten awareness about senior hunger.

Sam Wyche, board member and past chairman of Pickens County Meals on Wheels, agreed to help the Meals on Wheels Upstate Alliance of which these organizations are a part. Wyche, former NFL coach and quarterback will drive a new Subaru from Fairway Subaru of Greenville to each of these Meals on Wheels programs. At the Meals on Wheels locations, Wyche will highlight the work each program is doing in its county and the challenges it faces.

Fairway Subaru is providing a Subaru to transport Wyche and his wife, Jane as a continuing effort in its Share the Love program.

Subaru of America, Inc. created the Share the Love program in 2008 to help charities and give back to the community. Through its partnership with Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) it has given back through holiday meal grants, scholarships and donations to MOWAA that have assisted local Meals on Wheels programs across the country.

For more information on itinerary and details of the campaign, check the Pickens County Meals on Wheels website at www.pcmow.org or call 864-855-3770, Ext. 107.

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