The Heritage Area Agency on Aging is hoping the public dials in to help feed at-risk older adults in eastern Iowa. Heritage is excited to announce the return of the Fill the Plate telethon to bring greater support and awareness for its Senior Nutrition Home Delivered and Congregate Meal program. Last year’s telethon raised over $140,000 to help provide nutritious meals to older adults throughout eastern Iowa.

The Fill the Plate telethon runs from 5:30-9:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 8, on KCRG 9.3 Live Healthy Eastern Iowa. The event will raise money to help mitigate this year’s funding shortfall and increase awareness and local engagement for this critical program now and into the future.

While last year’s effort was a success, the need continues to rise. Last year, in partnership with local providers, Heritage provided over 388,000 home-delivered and congregate meals to low-income seniors in eastern Iowa. Funding for the program has not kept pace with increasing operating costs and the expanding needs of seniors, as that population continues to grow. Heritage expects to have a funding gap of 54,000 meals this year.

“We hope to raise money to help close the funding gap as much as possible,” said Tim Getty, the Nutrition and Healthy Living Program Coordinator for Heritage. “We know with an aging population and tight budgets, that we’ll need continued help from the public to support seniors who rely on us for their daily meals.”

The “Fill the Plate” telethon website is now accepting donations. Tax-deductible donations can be made at www.kirkwood.edu/filltheplate.

There are sponsorship and entertainment opportunities available to those interested in participating in the Fill the Plate telethon. For more information, contact The Heritage Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-332-3934 or heritage@kirkwood.edu.

About Heritage Agency

The Heritage Agency, a department of Kirkwood Community College since 1971, works to plan, fund and advocate for older adults, their families and caregivers in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties. For more information, call 319-398-5559.