2024 MARCH FOR MEALS CAMPAIGN 
Fairbanks Senior Center JOINS IN A SPECIAL MONTH-LONG, 22nd ANNUAL 2024 March for Meals “It Takes a village” Campaign!
Your Support will help to fight senior hunger and isolation in Fairbanks NOW!
[Fairbanks, Alaska] (February 28, 2024) – The Fairbanks Senior Center, is excited to announce the 4th Annual upcoming 2024 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 extraordinary things this community has done to make sure that the Fairbanks Meals on Wheels program stays sustainable. Your amazing community partnership has helped the Meals on Wheels program in a tremendous way during the 2024 Year End Giving Campaign. However, with the constant increasing demand of senior needs, we still must reach out and raise funds to assist our trailblazers so they can remain in this incredible community they call home. With your continued support, the Meals on Wheels program, and the seniors served are forever grateful. You help deliver smiles throughout our village.
The 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 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.
The Fairbanks Senior Center’s celebration will include various activities throughout the month of March, including: recognizing our Meals on Wheels Volunteers; a comprehensive social and traditional media campaign; and, partnerships with a multitude of local businesses and organizations.
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 continues to be 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 they know they are important, safe, and not forgotten,” states Darlene Supplee, Executive Director of the Fairbanks Senior Center.
About our Meals on Wheels program:
Since the 1950s, Congress has provided funding through the Older Americans Act which helps run community-based senior nutrition programs, such as the Fairbanks Meals on Wheels, across the nation. In 1973, the Fairbanks Senior Center established the first Meals on Wheels program in the interior of Alaska.
Last year we served 400 seniors — with 58% reporting their annual income at or below $19,000 –for a total of 60,000 meals served. Unfortunately, our funding has not kept pace with this growth, but we are able to continue the program thanks to generous support from the community.
Help us celebrate our Pioneers (or the word seniors) 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 Fairbanks Meals on Wheels 2024 donor page, at https://fairbanksseniorcenter.networkforgood.com/projects/215842-meals-on-wheels-2024.
2024 March for Meals “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 100% of all donations to the Co-op Market will be contributed to Meals on Wheels. Please visit, and help us support our local Co-op Market and the Meals on Wheels program! Every $5.00 donated will help feed one meal to a senior in need.
- March 11th – 15th “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 the Fairbanks Meals on Wheels volunteers know how much they are appreciated through out the community. Remember, “It Takes a Village!”
- March 18th – 22nd “Champions Week” – All community members can be “Champions” from artists to photographers, songwriters to musicians, poets to comedians, friends and neighbors, and local and State Representative – including Mayors. We are all in important positions to help raise awareness for the growing number of seniors facing hunger and isolation. These are serious problems that have been exacerbated by the increase in food, fuel, and housing costs. You can help support the seniors in our community and be a “Champion” to help the Fairbanks Senior Center gain much-needed visibility for Meals on Wheels by 1) liking our Facebook page, 2) sharing Meals on Wheels content, 3) and tagging 5 friends!
- March 25th – 29th “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 #2024MarchforMealsFBX.
Thank you to everyone who participated in any way for making this campaign an amazing awareness-building and fundraising success!