Mardi Gras Fun Benefits Meals on Wheels

By Cary Magazine

Folks in the Triangle poured into the Raleigh Convention Center on Feb. 16 to celebrate Mardi Gras and raise money for a good cause at the Ninth Annual Fat Tuesday Benefit for Meals on Wheels of Wake County.

Attendees dined on a festive Cajun-style buffet and made bids on live and silent auction items. Zydecopious, a swinging Zydeco band, had everyone tapping their toes.

In 2009, close to $47,000 was raised at Fat Tuesday to support Meals on Wheels of Wake County, which equals 12,000 meals. This year’s goal is to double the number of meals purchased.

Meals on Wheels has served Wake County’s senior and disabled neighbors since 1974, and during the course of 36 years, more than 6 million meals have been served. These meals are delivered by a volunteer force that numbers more than 2,200. Each weekday, volunteers deliver 1,500 meals to homebound senior and disabled neighbors.

However, more than 400 elderly neighbors are on a wait list. For more information, visit www.wakemow.org.