Art fair helps pay for meal program
Montana Coffee Traders gave Meals on Wheels a push last month by sponsoring an art fair and silent auction at the Bohemian Grange in Whitefish.
The event kicked off Nov. 19 with a wine-and-cheese party and silent auction, then continued the next day with an all-day art fair.
In all, the fund-raiser brought in more than $1,200 for Meals on Wheels, the nutrition program affiliated with the Agency on Aging.
Cindy Brooks manages the grange and also works for Coffee Traders.
She had read an article in the Whitefish Pilot last year about the Meals on Wheels budget being cut by $22,000 and that inspired her to sponsor a fund-raiser.
"I don't think there's anyone who doesn't know of someone, either ill or elderly, who hasn't at one time or another benefited from the program," she says. As a result, she organized the first Holiday Art Fair and Benefit for Meals on Wheels in 2003, which raised roughly the same amount of money for the program.
This year's event featured the work of 17 artists whose work including photography, jewelry, fiber art, fresh wreaths, pottery and more.
Each artist chose to donate a piece for the auction. Cash donations also were collected at the door. Students from the Good Medicine Massage School lent their helping hands by offering massages, and the North Valley Music School provided live entertainment.
Meals on Wheels manager J.R. Isles says the nonprofit organization serves between 5,000 and 6,000 meals a month in Bigfork, Lakeside, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Kalispell. It operates on a minimum staff, relying on 90 to 100 volunteers who help deliver, serve and pick up food at the main office on Kelly Road in Kalispell.
About half of the meals are served at area facilities and half are delivered to those who are homebound, unable to cook for themselves and don't have a caregiver to cook for them.
Isles says the money raised at the art fair goes directly into the food account to buy state commodities and food from local purveyors. A typical meal costs about $4.30. Donations collected at the art fair this year will supply nearly 280 meals.
"We're on a tight budget so every bit helps," says Isles, who explained that Meals on Wheels is funded on a month-to-month basis and also needs to cover individuals who are just leaving hospitals or nursing homes and need temporary assistance.
"Those people need to get on the program quickly," says Isles, adding, "It's a big plus that families know someone is stopping in to see mom or dad." Overall, Isles says Meals on Wheels manages approximately 1,100 to 1,200 clients a year.
To donate or volunteer, contact Meals on Wheels, 160 Kelly Road, Suite A, Kalispell, MT 59901, or call 758-5710.