Comments from our Executive Director
Darlene Supplee
[Fairbanks, Alaska] (February 28, 2023) – North Star Council on Aging a/k/a Fairbanks Senior Center, is excited to announce the upcoming 2023 March for Meals “It Takes a Village” Campaign for the Fairbanks Meals on Wheels program!
When we say “It Takes a Village,” we think of all the amazing things this community has done to make sure that the Fairbanks Meals on Wheels program stays sustainable….and you all helped make sure our 2022 Year End Giving Campaign was a great success. THANK YOU! As a result, your beautiful community partnership has helped the Meals on Wheels program in a tremendous way. However, with the constant increasing demand of senior needs, we still must reach out and raise funds to assist our pioneers so they can remain in the wonderful community they call home.
This year’s annual March for Meals celebration commemorates 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 national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older. This March, the Meals on Wheels programs from across the country are joining forces to celebrate more than 50 years of success, and garner the support needed to ensure these critical programs can continue to address food insecurities and malnutrition, combat social isolation, enable independence, and improve health for years to come.
When we say “It Takes a Village,” we think of all the amazing things this community has done to make sure that the Fairbanks Meals on Wheels program stays sustainable. The partnership with our community consists of volunteers who deliver meals daily to our clients, volunteers who bag cookies for our meals, and those who support our mission through donations to assure no senior goes hungry.
Alaska has the fastest growing senior population of all the states at 63%. These amazing Pioneers have built the wonderful community we call home. In the FNSB, our 80 and older cohort is currently 1,800 and will grow to over 5,000 by 2030, which is a 211% increase. Your Fairbanks Senior Center is actively solidifying imperative base services to help our beloved Pioneers remain living at home. The Fairbanks Senior Center calls this an “Aging in Place Movement” which consists of home modification, wellness checks, home-delivered and congregate meals, socialization, exercise and educational classes, homemaker services, and connection to programs that enhance financial security.
Thank you for visiting our web page and your interest in our senior community. It is an honor to help the Pioneers who were essential in building our Golden Heart City!
Feel free to contact me any time about how you can directly impact a senior’s life.
Darlene Supplee
Executive Director
907-452-1735
For more information on how you can volunteer, contribute, or speak out for the seniors in Fairbanks this March, visit fairbanksseniorcenter.org.
“Meals on Wheels is more than just a meal. It is a wellness check, a lifeline for services, and a smile of love for the pioneers who built our community to ensure that they are important, safe, and not forgotten,” states Darlene Supplee, Executive Director of the Fairbanks Senior Center.
About our Meals on Wheels program:
The growing population of our local seniors is fondly called the “Silver Tsunami.” Within two years, the Fairbanks Senior Center’s program has grown from 64,000 meals in FY20 to over 74,000 home-delivered meals in FY2022. That is an increase of 10,000 more meals! Your partnership with your local Meals on Wheels program, will assure that no senior goes hungry, and the program will keep running and provide essential hot meals to those who are in need.
Help us celebrate our elders this March by being a part of our village, and let’s take care of our elders by supporting their passions and desires to age at home by calling the Fairbanks Senior Center, at 907-452-1735 to see how you can help. You can also visit the Senior Center’s website at https://fairbanksseniorcenter.org/, or visit the “It Takes a Village” Campaign page, at https://fairbanksseniorcenter.networkforgood.com/projects/181751-march-for-meals-2023-it-takes-a-village-campaign.
March for Meals 2023 “It Takes a Village” Campaign Community Events:
- March – The Entire Month – Co-Op Market’s “Lend a Hand” Fundraiser – We would love for you to visit the Co-Op Market anytime during the month of March for their “Lend a Hand” fundraiser for the Meals on Wheels program. 100% of all donations to the Co-op Market will be donated. Please visit, and help us support this AMAZING Market and the Meals on Wheels program! Every $5.00 donated will help feed one senior in need.
- March 13th – 17th “Volunteer Appreciation Week” – Help us support our AMAZING Meals on Wheels Volunteers by recognizing and supporting them with heart felt thank you cards, or a coffee card from Sunrise Bagel & Espresso. Let them know how much they are appreciated through out the community. Remember, “It Takes a Village!”
- March 20th – 24th “Champions Week” – As an influential member of our community, as an artist, writer, songwriter, musician, poet, or comedian, a local State Representative or City Mayor, you are in an important position to help raise awareness for the growing number of seniors facing hunger and isolation. These are serious problems that have been exacerbated by the historic food, fuel, and labor costs. You can help support your constituents in our community, and help the Fairbanks Senior Center gain much-needed visibility for this cause and successful public-private partnership.
- March 27th – 31st “In Memory of Week” – In honor of the special seniors in our lives, we encourage our community to donate on behalf of someone you lost, someone who receives Meals on Wheels, or even a Volunteer. Visit our campaign page and click the “Honor [with] your gift” button for your donation. If you would like, you can also share photos and memories of your special someone using the hashtag #2023MarchforMealsFBX.
- Kindest Regards,
Darlene Supplee
Executive Director
Men’s before
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Women’s before
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Kindest Regards, Darlene Supplee ~ Executive Director