Meals On Wheels of Chesco Moves Auction Online

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Meals On Wheels of Chester County is taking its annual auction online to raise funds that feed seniors. The local charitable organization will offer a long list of items for sale on an auction site, with all of the proceeds going to purchase food. The auction will include gift baskets and gift cards.

Jeani Purcell, Director of Meals on Wheels of Chester County, said the organization last year served 81,000 meals to homebound seniors who struggle financially. She said 95 percent of those served are over 60 and many live alone.

Purcell reported referrals have increased with the coronavirus pandemic. "Many have relied on family members to go to the grocery store for them, but now those family members don't want to go to the store," she said. Purcell said that when Chester County's 13 food providers give what they can, there sometimes remains a wait list of people requesting meals. The organization looks for ways of providing, sometimes delivering FEMA shelf-stable meals, or frozen meals, in place of the warm meals that Meals On Wheels volunteers normally deliver. There are 21 Meals on Wheels chapters in Chester County. Nearly 600 volunteers last year delivered meals to over 700 resident seniors.

While 46 percent of costs for Meals on Wheels of Chester County comes from donations, the rest must be found through grants and fund-raising, according to Purcell.

Because of social distancing recommendations, the auction needed to go online this year. Buyers must link to that auction site to make purchases. The auction deadline is Aug. 1.

Purcell gave a reminder that those who participate in the auction are not only giving to seniors who need meals, they are also support the local businesses who donate auction items. "This is helping those businesses at a time when they need that support, also," she said.