August 6, 2002

Richard Calebria from Broward "Meals on Wheels"

Broward Meals on Wheels was formed in 1984 to provide meals to citizens over the age of 60 under the Federal Older Americans Act.  Currently the organization serves about 7,000 meals a month to any person requesting their service at walk-in facilities.  Qualified individuals who are shut-ins and can not get to the facilities have meals delivered to them.  All of these meals are prepared and served at no charge, although donations are requested.  Each meal is prepared at a cost of just over $2.00 and lunches and dinners are prepared.  The only criteria is that the individual is over the age of 60 - there is no medical or financial criteria (other than for meal delivery.)  Most of the funding is from the federal government, although the funding of services which are beyond the federal program, such as Meals for Pets, is done privately through donations and fund raisers.  The organization is proud of its record that 93% of the funds committed to Broward Meals on Wheels goes to meal preparation and delivery with only 7% for administrative costs.  More can be learned from their web site at www.bmow.com

In the foreground is Broward Director John Pudwell with Harold Facks

Gracing our presence today was Marie Lively, Pat's daughter and world traveler.  Marie, our Outbound exchange student to Austria a year or so ago just finished a semester in Brussels, and now is about to embark on a program called "Semester at Sea", and will visit Japan, Hong Kong, Viet Nam, Thailand and a host of other exotic ports of call.   All of this just thrills Pat to pieces!  "Once they see the city you'll never get 'em back on the farm"!!!

Board Meeting on the 22nd.  The usual place.