Meals on Wheels benefit a success

The lawn chairs were out and the weather perfect as more than 200 gathered to hear bluegrass Saturday evening on the lawn of the Governor's Mansion.

Sponsored by the Carson City Senior Citizens' Center, this was the third annual benefit for the Meals on Wheels program. The $12 admission bought a social box supper and lots of toe tappin' tunes, compliments of the Northern Nevada Volunteer Bluegrass Association.

"We're enjoying this a lot," said Carson City resident Shirley Hammon. "This is such a beautiful yard and the music is great."

"It's getting people out and it's for a good cause," said Carson City resident Anna Marie Jaeckel.

The Meals on Wheels program provides seniors 60 and older with meal delivery in case of illness or disability and for many of these seniors, the daily visit from the Meals on Wheels driver is the only contact with the outside world. The program is about $33,000 in the red, but program director Janice McIntosh was optimistic.

"This is the most successful event we've had yet," she said. "I'm hoping to clear $7,500 for Meals on Wheels. This and the Center's Senior Follies will do much to offset that deficit."

A number of prizes were being auctioned, including a breakfast cruise on the M.S. Dixie, dinner for two at Cafe Soleil and 18 holes of golf with a cart at the Eagle Valley Golf Course.

Service to the neediest won't be cut, but about 15 seniors are on the waiting list with no relief in sight.

The community can help is through the center's "Adopt a Senior" program. One could commit to three to six months at $46 per month or $552 for a year.

"Whatever they can do to help that is manageable for them," McIntosh said.