As a member of the Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, we want to let you know about a community need we find very worthwhile and heartwarming; Meals on Wheels of Cheyenne, WY. Along with a number of other dedicated volunteers, we make sure a hot meal is delivered each day to home-bound folks here in the Cheyenne community.
Christmas for these folks is as necessary and exciting as their warm meal each day. Their Christmas comes from your graciousness in selecting and giving a gift through our Angel Tree. The Property Exchange, along with the Cheyenne Rotary Club, Meals on Wheels Volunteers, and your generosity makes Christmas wishes come true for someone in need. Gift tags can be selected from the Angel Tree located at 255 Storey Blvd., starting after Thanksgiving.
One of the most important things drivers do when they deliver meals is to check on the safety and well being of each person. The driver is often the only person they will see that day. These volunteers actually save lives, because they can get emergency help to your friends, neighbors, or loved ones quickly. The number of people needing this service is increasing as our elderly population is grows, and the future of our program is being threatened as funding has become less reliable.
We need your help to continue serving Cheyenne and Laramie County by supporting this worthwhile program. Without your support we run the risk of a waiting list for these services. With our Mart Store, 12 employees, and hundreds of volunteers, we have continued to serve everyone that has been placed in our program without delays, waiting lists, or worries. However, 66% of our budget must come from donations and fund raisers if we are to continue serving these home-bound clients. Remember, YOU may need this service one day as well. Please open your heart and help us with your support.
Here are some facts we would like to share with you:
We serve 75,000 to 85,000 meals annually
- We deliver 215-260 meals daily
- We have 255-300 people in the Meals on Wheels program
- 32 routes daily and this will be increasing because some routes now have 14 to 15 people in them.
- 160 Drivers are needed weekly
- Drives use their own vehicles and pay for their own gas.
- We need 3-5 volunteers in the kitchen daily to get the meals out.
- Grants cover 34% of our funding.
- 43% of our funding is derived from fundraising events and projects.
- The cost of therapeutic meals is constantly rising and has risen 26% in 2009
- Wyoming will be the second oldest state in our country by 2030.
- Long-term care for the future will be provided in the home because of cost and necessity. Nationally, we are moving towards this now.
- We do not currently have a waiting list of people who need food, and our goal is to never have a waiting list.
- The elderly population is growing at a rate of 22.2%.
- We provide over 1,700 FREE meals per month, and this number is rising.
- Due to the increase in cost of utilities, medicine, and other needs, client contributions for their meals are decreasing.
- Wyoming citizens age 85 and over (those with the greatest need for our service) grew by 48% between 1990 and 2005.
- Ninety-eight percent of the people we serve state they would not be in their own homes if it was not for our services.
- Our clients tell us they feel safer because we check on them daily
We ask you to embrace Meals on Wheels by volunteering or giving with your heart. To volunteer or get more information, please call our Director, Sharon Benson, at (307) 635-5542.
Posted by: R.S.V.P. Team
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