AgeWell Services Announces Year End Opportunities to Support Older Adults This Holiday Season
Muskegon, MI – As the holiday season approaches, AgeWell Services of West Michigan invites the community to come together to ensure older adults are nourished, supported and remembered. Through several year-end initiatives, including the End the Wait campaign, DTE Energy Foundation Holiday Meals and the Holiday Market, community members have meaningful ways to make an impact during one of the most challenging times of year for many seniors.
Help Us End the WaitTM This Holiday Season
For many older adults, the holidays are filled with quiet instead of celebration. One in two seniors living alone struggles to afford basic needs, often facing heartbreaking choices between heating their homes or putting food on the table. Winter weather only deepens the isolation, making it harder for homebound seniors to stay nourished and connected. That’s why AgeWell Services is joining the national End the Wait™ campaign and inviting our West Michigan community to take action throughout the season of giving.
Meals on Wheels is more than a meal — it’s a lifeline. Each delivery includes a nutritious, freshly prepared meal, a safety check and a much-needed moment of social connection. For 62% of our participants, the friendly knock on the door from a volunteer is the only human interaction they’ll have that day or even all week. This year, we’re proud to share Meals on Wheels America’s powerful message inspired by the classic “Silent Night,” which illustrates how the season of joy can often feel painfully silent for the seniors we serve.
“Over 350 older adults in Oceana, Muskegon and Ottawa counties are on our waitlist to receive Meals on Wheels,” said Kris VanderStelt, Executive Director at AgeWell Services. “This isn’t just about food. It’s about dignity, safety and human connection. We’re asking our community to help us End the Wait so no senior is left hungry or alone during the holidays.
Your support can help ensure every older adult we serve receives not only a hot meal, but also the warmth of knowing they haven’t been forgotten.
Learn more by watching the End the Wait video: https://youtu.be/uNkwO9HbG98
DTE Energy Foundation Holiday Meals
Thanks to the DTE Energy Foundation and other community partners, AgeWell Services will once again offer Holiday Meals to older adults who may otherwise go without a traditional holiday dinner. These special meals provide nourishment as well as the emotional comfort of knowing someone cares, which is an important reminder during a season that can feel isolating for seniors living alone.
Holiday meals are no cost, for adults 60 and older and will be available through the Meals on Wheels program in all service counties and at 10 Lunch & Activity Centers in Muskegon and Ottawa Counties. Reservations will be accepted November 10 – December 5.
Shop, Support and Celebrate at the Holiday Market
Community members can also support older adults by shopping with a purpose at the 2nd Annual Holiday Market on December 13 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the AgeWell Services Administration Building (275 W Clay Ave Ste 100, Muskegon, MI 49440). All items are handcrafted by AgeWell Services team members, and 100% of proceeds support the organization’s five essential programs.
How to Get Involved
- Donate to support the End the Wait campaign.
Website: https://agewellservices.org/end-the-wait/
- Volunteer to help with the DTE Energy Foundation Holiday Meals.
Website: https://agewellservices.org/dte-energy-holiday-meal/
- Share about DTE Energy Foundation Holiday Meals with an older adult.
- Shop at the Holiday Market and participate in the Cookie Crawl.
- Engage with and share AgeWell Services content on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agewellservices/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agewellserviceswmi/
Please consider donating, volunteering or engaging with us today because no senior should have to wait for nourishment or kindness.
About AgeWell Services of West Michigan
AgeWell Services provides essential support for seniors, including nutritious meals, wellness activities, and programs that promote independence and quality of life. Through its partnerships and dedicated volunteer network, AgeWell Services supports seniors each month with hundreds of rides to medical appointments, delivers thousands of meals to homebound seniors, and offers a variety of community-centered programs that foster connection, health, and engagement.
For more information or to donate, visit www.agewellservices.org or call (231) 755-0434.
About Meals on Wheels America
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a trusted volunteer workforce, this network delivers a comprehensive solution that begins with a meal and is proven to enable independence and well-being through the additional benefits of tailored nutrition, social connection, safety and much more. By providing funding, programming, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
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