Detroit Meals on Wheels-Holiday Meals on Wheels Program Receives $25,000 From DTE Energy Foundation to Feed Thousands of Metro Detroit Homebound Seniors on Christmas
DETROIT, Dec. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) today announced it has received a $25,000 grant from the DTE Energy Foundation for its Holiday Meals on Wheels program. The grant will help the agency provide nearly 6,000 homebound senior citizens with hot, nutritious meals on Christmas Day. In addition to the grant, more than 700 DTE Energy employees, retirees and family members will help pack and deliver these meals to seniors on Christmas morning.
"DAAA's Detroit Meals on Wheels - Holiday Meals on Wheels program is such a special program and so important to the thousands of seniors it serves in our community," said Joyce Hayes Giles, DTE Energy's senior vice president of customer service. "We're so pleased to be part of the holiday program this year as its sponsor – and as part of the team that will be delivering meals on Christmas morning."
"We graciously thank DTE Energy for seeking to support a community program like our Holiday Meals on Wheels program. At the time when we are facing cuts in funding, it's critical that we receive this type of support to continue feeding our homebound senior population in need. We welcome them to our family of supporters as an important part of this holiday tradition that recognizes that hunger takes no holiday," said Paul Bridgewater, Detroit Area Agency on Aging President & CEO.
The DTE Energy volunteers will join hundreds other volunteers from corporations, businesses, churches, sororities, fraternities and various organizations who will pack, distribute and individually deliver fresh-cooked, hot nutritious meals to metro Detroit homebound seniors on Christmas Day.
The packing will occur at Valley Services, 1980 Bagley in Detroit, at the corner of Rosa Parks Blvd. (old 12th Street) south of Michigan Avenue, near old Corktown.
Starting on Thursday, December 23, hundreds of volunteers will assemble the cold portion (beverages, bread and dessert) of the meal from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. On Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25, at 6:00 a.m., the volunteers will package the hot food portion of the meal for distribution to twelve sites (on page 3) where delivery of individual meals will take place between 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Through DAAA, Detroit Meals on Wheels, a federal and state funded program, meals are delivered to seniors five days a week. Unfortunately, there are no public funds to feed metro Detroit area homebound seniors during weekends and holidays. In 1988, DAAA under the leadership of Paul Bridgewater, joined the national campaign and created the Holiday Meals on Wheels (HMOW) program, adopting the slogan that "Hunger Takes No Holiday" to feed seniors who would otherwise go hungry on holidays.
HMOW currently feeds between 3,500 to 5,700 seniors each Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Labor Day. These holiday meals are made possible by a grassroots campaign that raises private contributions. Hundreds of DAAA employees, employees of other companies, partnering organizations, corporations, churches and individuals sell holiday greeting cards for $5 each. For every card sold, a homebound senior is fed through this program.
To make a donation, call (313) 446-4444.
About Detroit Area Agency on Aging
DAAA, whose mission is to promote healthy aging and enhance the quality of life for older adults, is a private nonprofit agency established in 1980. DAAA serves approximately 56,000 older adults age 60 and over and caregivers residing in the City of Detroit and metropolitan areas including the five Grosse Pointes, Hamtramck, Harper Woods and Highland Park annually. DAAA's services include Community Access, Wellness Services, Healthy Aging and Nutrition Services feeding about 4,000 homebound and disabled adults daily through the Detroit Meals on Wheels program, Care Management Services for homebound seniors, the Mature Workers Program for low-income individuals age 55 or older, the Medicaid and Medicare Assistance Program, Outreach Services, and the Senior Solution on WGPR 107.5 every Saturday at 10 am. The organization is located at 1333 Brewery Park in Detroit. For further information call (313) 446-4444 or visit www.daaa1a.org.
About DTE Energy
DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide, its operating units include Detroit Edison, an electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan, MichCon, a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan and other non-utility, energy businesses focused on gas storage and pipelines, unconventional gas production, power and industrial projects, and energy trading, information about DTE Energy is available at www.dteenergy.com and at twitter.com/dte_energy.
DAAA Holiday Meals on Wheels Christmas Day delivery distribution sites:
- All Saints Church, 3837 W. Seven Mile Road, Detroit
- Detroit Association of Women's Clubs, 5461 Brush Street, Detroit
- Franklin Wright Settlements, 3360 Charlevoix, Detroit
- Christ Church, 960 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit
- Alpha Phi Alpha /King Solomon's Lodge, 293 Eliot, Detroit
- New Light Baptist Church Annex, 9550 Grand River Avenue, Detroit
- New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church, 19951 Livernois Avenue, Detroit
- Bridging Communities, 6900 McGraw Street, Detroit
- S.O.C./Neighborhood Club, 17150 Waterloo, Grosse Pointe Woods
- El Bethel Church, 25295 Grand River, Detroit
- 12th Street Baptist Church, 1840 Midland, Detroit
- The Matrix Center, 13560 E. McNichols Road, Detroit
SOURCE DTE Energy
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