The 2009 Miles for Meals Walkathon campaign is up and going!  The emphasis is on community spirit and participation to meet this year’s goal of $8,000. The walk will take place on Saturday, April 25.

Registration is at 8 a.m. at the Holden Senior Center and the walk begins at 8:30 a.m.  Breakfast will be served to all walkers upon return to the center.

The Holden Senior Center is joining forces with more than 200 Missouri senior centers that are part of the Care Connection of Aging Services’ statewide Miles for Meals campaign. Funds raised by the community will stay here to support local meal programs, including home-delivered and congregate meals, and to increase community awareness of the Holden Senior Center’s role in helping older adults remain independent members of the community by providing services and activities that will enable them to stay healthy and active.  The Holden Senior Center is only partially funded through grant dollars (41 percent) and the remaining funds must come from contributions for services and fundraising activities in the community.

The Planning Committee members for 2009 are: Linda Watson, Katherine Hadley, Sharon Briscoe, Janet Timme, Dee Hughes, Clyde Ogden, Thelma Freer, Fran Yoder, Ellie Page, Dorothy Doutt, Margaret Cline and Joyce Lagud. They have been busy making plans for another successful walkathon this year.

Packets of information regarding the fundraiser will be distributed by April 1 to local businesses and churches. The elementary school has already made plans for the 700 children to walk with Coach Amy Morrison at the school. Some children will also represent the school at the walk on April 25.  Teabag letters will be going out to individual supporters of the Holden Senior Center as well.

Please make plans now to join in the fun and support this important community event, say organizers.  The community’s continuing support and participation is greatly appreciated by its older citizens.  For more information on the walkathon, please contact Linda Watson, chairperson at 850-5559 or Joyce Lagud, center coordinator at 732-5757.