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News Release

Silver Key Senior Services Will Be Participating In 54th Annual March For Meals Celebrating Meals On Wheels -02/23/24

Support will help to fight senior hunger and isolation in the Pikes Peak region amid the pandemic and rapidly rising food costs.

Colorado Springs, CO – Silver Key announced today that it will be participating in the 54th annual March for Meals – a month-long, nationwide celebration of Meal on Wheels and our senior neighbors who rely on this essential service to remain healthy and independent at home, now even more so amid the ongoing pandemic. Silver Key’s celebration will include various activities throughout the month of March, including Silver Key’s celebration honoring those in the community that make Meals on Wheels a possibility throughout the month of March. Silver Key will also have selected community dignitaries and local celebrities onsite volunteering with meal prep and delivery during Community Champions Week from March 18thth-20th to help gain awareness and visibility for this important cause. 

“Since the pandemic began, we have experienced a 71% increase in the demand for delivered meal services 7% more in just the past year alone in the Pikes Peak region,” said Jaime Garcia, Chief Development Officer for Silver Key Senior Services. “We have seen an uptick in local seniors reaching out for food support and we want to remain a vital lifeline to provide nutritious and well-balanced meals.” 

Silver Key experienced a tremendous increase when COVID first began in demand for Home Delivered meals. After the initial increase, it has continued to grow, and it has become apparent that reaching isolated seniors (particularly on fixed incomes) is still a great need. Silver Key delivered over 50,000 meals and served over 135,000 in our entire nutrition program in 2023.

The annual March for Meals celebration commemorates fifty-three years ago the historic day in March of 1972 when President Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older. Since 2002, community-based Meals on Wheels programs from across the country have joined forces for the annual awareness campaign to celebrate this successful public-private partnership and garner the support needed to fill the gap between the seniors served and those still in need. 

“We commend all of our 2024 Community Champions for stepping up in support of Meals on Wheels amid such an unprecedented time in our nation’s history,” said Ellie Hollander, President, and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “Despite decades of proven success and bipartisan support, funding for this program has failed to keep pace with the rapidly growing need for its services. With the nation’s senior population increasing dramatically, now is the time to support local Meals on Wheels programs – through volunteering, donating, and speaking out – to ensure we are able to deliver for another 50 years.”

For more information on how you can volunteer, contribute, or speak out for seniors in the Pikes Peak region this March visit www.silverkey.org or call 719-884-2300.

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Silver Key provides older adults in the Pikes Peak region with a wide variety of services such as Silver Key Connections Cafés, home-delivered meals including Meals on Wheels, government food program distribution, Thrift Store with durable medical equipment, Reserve & Ride transportation services, V.I.P. program volunteer events and service opportunities, and vital Silver Key Health & Wellness Services which include a wide array of senior assistance services including companionship, case management, resource navigation, calls of reassurance, and Five Wishes advanced care planning.