Citing a significant boost in volunteer interest and fundraising activity, Suffolk Meals On Wheels has deemed its March for Meals 2004 campaign a success.

&uot;We met our goal of $15,000 earlier through the generous corporate contributions of $500 from QVC – Suffolk, and $1,000 from Ciba Specialty Chemicals. In addition, we have been enjoying a renewed interest in our organization and its mission,&uot; said Sharon DeWitt, executive director of Suffolk Meals On Wheels. &uot;As always, we have received a positive response from our community, which makes all the work that goes into this annual campaign worth it.&uot;

Each year during March for Meals, hundreds of Meals On Wheels programs nationwide work to raise public awareness of senior nutrition issues, raise funds to enable the provision of their meal services, and recruit volunteers to assist in the delivery of those services to a growing population. Each program establishes its own unique campaign strategy based on March for Meals themes.

This year, Suffolk Meals On Wheels’ activities were supported by national campaign spokesperson, Nashville recording star and cookbook author Naomi Judd, who was featured in campaign posters and public service announcements.

&uot;Senior nutrition programs nationwide provide congregate and home-delivered meal services for elderly people in need. As a member of The Meals On Wheels Association of america (national organization whose mission is to provide visionary leadership and professional training for Meals on Wheels programs nationwide) we develop partnerships that will ensure the provision of quality nutrition services,&uot; said DeWitt. &uot;Our organization partners with many local businesses like QVC and Ciba, and we have been delivering meals in the city of Suffolk since 1987 and the town of Windsor since 1998. Last year we provided more than 800 homebound citizens with 29,056 meals. In addition, deliver of those meals were dispensed through the efforts of our 300 volunteers who drove more than 56,000 miles and logged an average of nearly 7,000 hours of volunteer service.&uot;

For details, call 934-4911 or go to www.mealsonwheels.us/suffolkva.