Meals on Wheels hosts community drive to help feed neighbors

A new program to help the Bluffton-Hilton Head Meals on Wheels feed neighbors in need has kicked off and will last through August.

Meals On Us is a three-month-long fundraiser that features a raffle for restaurant gift cards in various denominations.

How would you like to win $2,000 worth of restaurant gift cards? Or maybe $1,000 worth or $500? Those are the prizes for the summer fundraiser. The gift cards were all donated by local restaurants in Bluffton and on Hilton Head Island.

“Meals on Wheels, Bluffton-Hilton Head provides meals to homebound neighbors at no cost, and we rely on grants and donations to pay for the meals,” said Lili Coleman, executive director. “The proceeds of this raffle will help pay the costs of providing the meals to people on Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and Sun City. In addition, our volunteers provide wellness checks and help fight social isolation for those living in their homes.”

The tickets sell for $20 each or six for $100 and will be sold through the months of June, July, and August. The drawing will be at 10 a.m. Sept. 6, the Wednesday after Labor Day.

The certificate values range from $400 to $25 with some of the restaurants contributing a gift card for each package. Some of the prizes are a foody experience.

Restaurants participating include Agave,

Bluffton Barbecue, Bluffton Room, Burnt Church Distillery, Catch 22, Chez George Coastal, Crab, Corner Perk, Hudson’s Local Pie, Lowcountry Fresh Market, Lucky Rooster, Mixx on Main, Outback, OKKO, Plantation Café, Pomodoro, San Miquel, Scott’s Fish Market, SERG, Sea Shack, Smoke House, Southern Barrel Brew, Street

Meat, The Cottage, Top Dawg, Up the Creek, and Woody’s. They are still accepting restaurant gift certificates donations from area eateries.

“We hope to raise $30,000 this year,” said Joe Scalzo, chair. “This will be an event we hope to grow bigger each year.”

The raffle is open to residents, tourists and families visiting the Lowcountry. The certificates are good through next summer or later.

Tickets are available on by visiting mowbhh.betterworld.org/giveaways/meals-us.

Meals on Wheels, Bluffton-Hilton Head relies solely on individual donations and local grants to fund the meal and social connection programs.

The organization is also launching a pet program to help their clients keep their furry friends in their households. No federal or state funding supports this local program. For more information, contact the agency by calling 843-802-0919. They are a United Way agency and an affiliate of Meals on Wheels, America.