Benefit Aids Meals On Wheels

HARVEST OF CARING SUPPORTS ROGERS PROGRAM

By By Debbie Miller THE MORNING NEWS <a href="mailto:

Posted: November 1, 2009 at 1:46 a.m.

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ROGERS — Scores of supporters turned out Oct. 24 for a program that delivers meals to people who are homebound or have special needs.

“We don’t just deliver the meals,” said Elmer Stimac, who has driven one of the five delivery routes for Meals on Wheels of Rogers. He’s performed tasks to help out clients, even hooking up a washer on occasion, he said.

He’s also made it a point to check on the recipients’ welfare with each delivery. “We look them in the eye and see how alert they are,” he said.

The inaugural Harvest of Caringbenefit for Meals on Wheels of Rogers drew more than 150 people to the John Q. Hammons Center.

Curt Loyd, executive director, said last week that final figures on attendance and gross proceedsweren’t immediately available.

Loyd noted before the event that merchants and individuals had been very generous to the cause.

Those attending could peruse a wide variety of silent auction items, including kitchen cutlery, gift baskets that included certifi - cates for restaurant dining, a toaster oven, a blender and a framed and matted photo of Cedar Falls at Petit Jean State Park, taken by photographer Beau Rogers.

Guests also could place bids during the live auction on several items, including a Vespa S50 scooter, a handcrafted love seat and homemade quilt cushion, a dinner catered by Kaye and Dean Burns, a 2010 Toyota Corolla, a door archway complete with installation, framed stained glass art, a gas grill, and a week’s stay in a Gulf Shores, Ala., condo. Mike Jeffcoat Jr. served as auctioneer with Mike Jeffcoat Sr. assisting.

Volunteers deliver approximately 150 meals each week for Meals on Wheels of Rogers.

Judy Simpson, one of the event committee members, noted that the organization relies on donations and payments from some meal recipients.

A route that Nancy Rogers has driven covers 41 milesand goes to Larue and Prairie Creek.

This is the first dinner and auction fundraiser for the organization. In addition to generating money for the program, the event also allowed guests to learn more about the operation.

Loyd said there are more than 35 volunteer drivers for the organization, but more are needed.

News, Pages 11 on 11/01/2009

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