A fundraising raffle for the Willits Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels program began last week and will continue through September 21.
All funds raised will go to the new Meals on Wheels delivery truck at the Willits Senior Center.
The fundraiser also honors local resident Jack Bothwell’s 100th birthday. His birthday party is by invitation only, but the fundraiser is open to the public in the lobby of the Willits Senior Center.
The fundraising raffle for Meals on Wheels began on August 21st. Tickets are available at the senior center. It is a raffle where you can choose your own prizes.
Organizers explained that “the blue tickets are $20 each and give you a chance to win a prize of your choice. Or the red tickets are $5 each or $6 for $20. Winners will be announced on September 21st. You don’t have to be there to win!”
Jack Bothwell is celebrating his 100th birthday and the MOW program is very close to Jack’s heart. In lieu of birthday gifts, Jack’s family is asking the community to support the senior center’s efforts to raise money for a new MOW truck.
“Good news…we have $35,000 set aside from previous fundraisers for the new truck. The 2023 offering for the new MOW truck is $88,750, which is well short of our fundraising goal. Any financial support you can give us is greatly appreciated. You can donate on our website at www.willitsseniorcenter.com, at this link https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted button id=4AW5YRDREVT2Q
“Or you can send us a check or visit us at: Harrah Senior Center, 1501 Baechtel Road, Willits, CA 95490. You can also support us by purchasing raffle tickets. We have over 35 amazing prizes donated by businesses. Raffle tickets are available at the Senior Center Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Richard Baker, director of the Harrah Senior Center, said, “We are deeply grateful for the support of our local businesses, those who have donated money, and everyone who purchases raffle tickets. Every donation brings us one step closer to raising the amount we need to purchase our new Meals on Wheels truck.”
Benefits of the Meals on Wheels program
The Meals on Wheels (MOW) program is an important service that many of our area seniors look forward to and rely on. It is well known that this program delivers a meal to the home of at-risk seniors with limited mobility. A nutritious meal is just the beginning of the added value Meals on Wheels can provide to help maintain the health of our most vulnerable seniors.
For nearly 40 years, Meals on Wheels has enriched the lives of Willits seniors, giving them the nutrition they need and the human contact they crave. But the benefits of this care and compassion go far beyond that, leading to significant improvements in their health.
Staff and volunteers form a network and are the “eyes and ears” in the homes of our most vulnerable seniors, observing first-hand any changes in the physical or mental state of MOW clients.
A report from the National Academies of Sciences indicates that nearly a quarter of adults ages 65 and older are considered socially isolated. Older adults are at higher risk of loneliness and social isolation because they are more likely to face factors such as living alone, loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss.
Health risks of loneliness
Although social isolation and loneliness are difficult to measure accurately, there is strong evidence that many adults aged 50 and over are socially isolated or lonely in ways that put their health at risk. Recent studies have found that:
Social isolation significantly increases the risk of premature death from all causes – a risk that may be comparable to that of smoking, obesity and physical inactivity.
Social isolation was associated with an approximately 50 percent increased risk of dementia.
Poor social relationships (characterized by social isolation or loneliness) were associated with a 29 percent increased risk of heart disease and a 32 percent increased risk of stroke.
Loneliness was associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety and suicide.
Loneliness was associated with a nearly fourfold increased risk of death, a 68 percent increased risk of hospitalization, and a 57 percent increased risk of emergency department visits in patients with heart failure.
While Meals on Wheels nourishes the body and soul, it also has a significant effect on reducing healthcare costs. One in four seniors now lives alone, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Meals on Wheels can be of great benefit to healthcare providers and insurers because it helps prevent unnecessary hospitalizations through daily nutrition, socialization and safety checks, reduces hospital readmissions and post-discharge care needs, and allows seniors to remain in their own homes and live independent lives. In fact, 81 percent of those served say Meals on Wheels improves their health.
