Catholic Charities will hold its 10th annual Meals on Wheels Dinner Dance and Silent Auction Saturday, March 1, at Maravela’s Banquets in Fox Lake to raise money for its Meals on Wheels programs. The Meals on Wheels Dinner Dance is the one annual fundraiser for the Lake County’s Meals on Wheels program, which is administered by Catholic Charities.

The event included dinner, dancing, a silent auction and raffles. The evening honored the approximately 100 volunteer drivers who make it possible for hot meals to reach hundreds of seniors each day. Additionally, the Silver Plate Award was presented to Al Kaczmaryn, an outstanding and dedicated volunteer of 8 years based out of Catholic Charities’ Latino Dining Site in Round Lake, IL.
The annual benefit’s proceeds help make up the difference between the cost of the program and the amount of funding Catholic Charities Lake County Senior Community Services receives. Although major funding comes from government sources, private donations are essential to keep pace with the increasing local demand for services. Catholic Charities coordinates the Meals on Wheels program throughout Lake County.

About 500 volunteer drivers delivered over 130,000 meals in 2007 to 927 homebound persons who had no one to assist them with food purchases or preparation. Volunteer drivers are private citizens, church groups of all denominations, corporate teams, and volunteers from Great Lakes Navy Base. The program also served 55,929 meals to seniors at two senior centers and six community nutrition sites. If you would like to support the Meals on Wheels program by donating to the cause, please call Catholic Charities at (847) 782-4119.

Now in its 90th year, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is the largest private, not-for-profit social service agency in the Midwest, annually assisting 1.1 million persons in Cook and Lake counties without regard to religious, ethnic or economic background. Catholic Charities fulfills the Church's role in the mission of charity by providing compassionate, competent, professional services that strengthen and support individuals, families and communities