LEWISTON — SeniorsPlus has received a $1,750 grant from Meals on Wheels America for its participation in the 13th Annual March for Meals campaign.

This year’s grants were made possible through the generosity of Subaru of America, Inc. and its seventh annual “Share the Love” event.

Grant funding will help SeniorsPlus to reduce its wait-list for Meals on Wheels.

“We are grateful for the grant award, which recognizes Meals on Wheels at SeniorsPlus and also our efforts at our Fill the Plate Breakfast, which was designed to bring to light the work being done in Maine to support our older adults,” said Betsy Sawyer-Manter, executive director of SeniorsPlus.

Celebrations related to Meals on Wheels at SeniorsPlus culminated with the Fill the Plate Breakfast, a first-time benefit event held on March 21 in Auburn.

The event also honored Dr. Alan Verrill with the Ikaria Award, recognizing the hours he had donated to education classes at SeniorsPlus. The award is named for Ikaria, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. It is considered one of the world’s five “Blue Zones” – places where an estimated one in three members of the population regularly lives an active life into their 90s.

“The March for Meals grant program is our way of recognizing local programs for bolstering the dynamic and effective partnership between Meals on Wheels and the businesses, organizations, governments and volunteers who provide critical support within their communities,” said Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander.

“In addition to mobilizing nearly 400 local Meals on Wheels celebrations across the country, we commemorated the month by releasing the findings of a groundbreaking research study proving that Meals on Wheels delivers so much more than just a meal,” she said.

FMI: visit marchformeals.com