Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott Joins AT&T to Announce $25,000 Contribution to Meals on Wheels Central Texas

June 20, 2024
Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott joined AT&T as the company awarded a $25,000 contribution to Meals on Wheels Central Texas to support its core mission of providing regular, nutritious meals to vulnerable Central Texans. The announcement came as Meals on Wheels celebrates more than 52 years of service to the community and as AT&T marks its 40th year of support – the non-profit’s longest serving corporate partner.
Meals on Wheels Central Texas will use the contribution to provide meals to homebound older adults and those living with disabilities, a service provided every weekday that promotes dignity and independent living.
Mrs. Abbott is a dedicated Meals on Wheels Central Texas volunteer, delivering meals on individual and corporate routes for more than 18 years.
“Meals on Wheels Central Texas is near and dear to my heart and has been since I started serving my route in 2006,” Mrs. Abbott said. “Being a Meals on Wheels Central Texas volunteer is one of my greatest joys. I love my clients, and I think I may get more out of delivering their meals than maybe they do. This organization cannot fulfill its mission without the volunteers who, every day, deliver food and other services to homebound older adults and people with disabilities. I encourage others to support this wonderful organization.”
Leslie Ward, President, AT&T Texas, added, “I am so proud of the AT&T employees who have served a corporate route with Meals on Wheels Central Texas for 40 continuous years. That is an amazing milestone in partnership and service. While I celebrate the work of this great organization, and the small part we’ve played in their success, I hope today’s event also will encourage others to join us. We need corporations and members of our community to support Meals on Wheels Central Texas to help them continue to provide their invaluable services to vulnerable members of our community.”
Meals on Wheels Central Texas, through The Power of the Knock, provides nutritious meals, a quick safety check, and much-needed human connection to homebound older adults. Our organization provides additional services that keep older neighbors healthy, safe, and living with dignity in their own homes including senior center meal programs, home repair services, In Home Care, and more.
According to US Census data, the aging population is anticipated to double for those 65 and older. At the same time, the number of individuals over 85 is projected to triple over the next 50 years. Both present opportunities and challenges to organizations like MOWCTX serving older adults.
“I am flanked today by amazing volunteers, from First Lady Cecilia Abbott with her 18 years of service as well as AT&T, whose employees have served the same corporate route for four decades and is our longest service corporate partner,” said Henry Van De Putte, President and CEO, Meals on Wheels Central Texas. “As we celebrate more than 52 years of service to the Central Texas community, I can’t wait to see who steps up to volunteer at the individual or corporate level to help us end senior hunger and social isolation. Join us!”
About Meals on Wheels Central Texas
The mission of Meals on Wheels Central Texas is to deliver care that empowers our neighbors by promoting dignity and independence. Meals on Wheels Central Texas began as a humble initiative in a small East Austin kitchen with just eight volunteers and has evolved into a robust operation, thanks to the many volunteers and donors who have supported this organization since its inception. Meals on Wheels Central Texas now serves more than 3,000 meals every business day.
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