Meals from Your Mayor

Eighteen local mayors, including Luke Ravenstahl, have signed up to be part of the "Meals on Wheels" program of southwestern Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, the officials will put in hours with the regular volunteer staff by hand-delivering food to area seniors. The Meals on Wheels program is run locally by the Lutheran Service Society(LSS), who puts out over 2 million meals each year. LSS President and CEO Marc Bloomingdale says "Mayors for Meals" is aimed to raise awareness of the service in local residents and possibly ignite interest in volunteering or donating to the program. These meals come with a suggested donation, but no actual price tag. "We don't send folks away hungry," says Bloomingdale, "and that's part of why we have to be so diligent in raising both volunteers and money to be able to support the program." LSS Director of Volunteer Services Leslie Montgomery says the mayors are setting a good example for their respective communities. "Many of them, obviously, are very busy... and I'm hoping that they can illustrate to other people who are also busy that there's always time to volunteer and help your community."