GENTRY — The Gentry Senior Activity Center will be participating in the national 2011 March for Meals Campaign with an adopt-a-senior program.

Area residents are invited to come and visit the Gentry Senior Activity Center, at 121 East Main Street, next-door to the Gentry Public Library, on March 23, between the hours of 10 and 11 a.m.

Those who wish to help feed a local senior citizen may doso for a donation of $5 per delivered meal. A donation of $25 will feed a senior for a week, said GSAC manager Jackie Bader.

Due to cuts in funding, the number of meals providedto seniors via the Meals on Wheels program was cut for the Gentry area, Bader said. She is hoping donations will make it possible to provide home-delivered hot meals to all those who need them.

“Meals on Wheels is all that is keeping some of our seniors out of nursing homes,” Bader said. “Without the prepared meals, that is their only option.

“During these tough economic times, the food and human contact we provide seniors in this community are neededmore than ever,” said Bader. “We need the community to come out and support our March for Meals events. Our clients are counting on us. We can’t let them down,” she said.

To show his support for the local Meals on Wheels program, Gentry Mayor Kevin Johnston will help by delivering meals to home-bound seniors in Gentry on March 23.

The Meals on Wheels Association of America is the oldest and largest national organization in the United States representing those programs that provide meals to people in need.

“Our Meals on Wheels programs are on the frontlines every day in the battle against senior hunger,” said MOWAA president and CEO Enid Borden. “March for Meals is a time when communities can come together to stand with their local Meals on Wheels and support our mission to end senior hunger by 2020.”

Donations to adopt a senior and provide meals may be brought by the senior center or mailed to GSAC, P.O. Box 1467, Gentry, AR 72734.

For more information, call GSAC at 736-0378.

News, Pages 1 on 03/16/2011