June 17, 2020 10:15 a.m.

Douglas County Senior Services has received a grant for just over $6,500 to help support their Meals on Wheels program.

A release from the Douglas County Commissioners said the funds are a result of the department’s participation in the 2019-2020 Share the Love event from Subaru of America.

Over the last twelve years through the annual event, Subaru and its retailers have donated more than $1.6 million to national charities and to over 1,170 hometown charities. Oregon earned a total of nearly $32,700 through this year’s event and had five participating Meals on Wheels members qualifying to receive the funds.

Douglas County Senior Services typically serves 71,000 hot meals a year to seniors via the Meals on Wheels program, and at several senior dining sites. This year, with an increase in requests due to COVID-19, they are expected to serve 74,000 meals by the end of June. Volunteers for these programs log more than 18,600 hours of service a year.

For more information regarding Meals on Wheels and how to become a volunteer, call 440-3677.