Sarasota – June 26, 2018 – Meals on Wheels of Sarasota welcomes three new members and one officer to its 2018 Board of Directors. Jody Maxwell has been named treasurer, and Debra Douglas, Ralph Hall and Jim Hastings will serve on the board as well. Led by President Dick Robbins, they join officers Lisa Krebs-Knepp, Vice President; Jane Knaack-Esbeck, Secretary; and members Adria M. Jensen, Howard Rooks, and Elizabeth Van Riper.
“We are so fortunate to have such a compassionate and hard-working board,” said Marjorie Broughton, Meals on Wheels of Sarasota executive director. “Our new members bring a wealth of experience to a board that understands the critical need for healthy, prepared meals delivered directly to residents who may otherwise go without.”
Meals on Wheels of Sarasota’s newest board members:
• Debra Douglas, insurance company executive, retired;
• Ralph Hall, attorney and educator, retired;
• Jim Hastings, restaurateur/commercial real estate investor, retired; and
• Jody Maxwell, CPA and partner at Mercurio and Maxwell, CPA’s.
Their leadership will guide the future growth of the organization which has been serving residents of Sarasota for more than 47 years, without federal funding. Together, they will be tasked with developing a strategic long-term plan that will ensure that residents who struggle with shopping and cooking for themselves or for their children and families, will have access to heart healthy meals.
For hundreds of people in Sarasota, Meals on Wheels is literally the difference between remaining in their own homes and needing to relocate to a nursing facility. The nutritious meal, friendly visit and safety check provided by volunteers, helps them cope with three of the biggest threats of aging: hunger, isolation and loss of independence. Research proves that when seniors have the right support, they gain greater quality of life, need fewer hospital stays and live longer. Meals on Wheels also serves disabled children, families, veterans, and people of all ages who are struggling with physical, mental, or temporary mobility issues and impairments.
For more information visit Meals on Wheels of Sarasota online at www.mealsonwheelsofsarasota.org or call 941-366-6693.
About Meals on Wheels of Sarasota
Meals on Wheels of Sarasota provides nutritious meals and friendship to individuals who are unable to plan, shop, or prepare meals for themselves. A team of approximately 450 volunteers deliver close to 500 meals daily to residents who are homebound, including physically or mentally challenged children, adults, seniors and veterans on a temporary or ongoing basis. Heart healthy meals are prepared and delivered to individuals and families who live in Sarasota County between University Parkway and Blackburn Point Road, and from East of I-75 to Longboat, Lido and Siesta Keys. To donate or learn more, visit www.mealsonwheelsofsarasota.org