Take The 'Sunday Dinner Pledge' To Help Support Meals On Wheels

BIRMINGHAM (WWJ) -- Pledging to have a sit down dinner with a senior citizen in your life could impact meals on wheels in the U.S and Canada.

Bert Copple, owner of Home Instead Senior Care in Birmingham, says that times have changed since Sunday dinners at Grandma's house -- that more and more seniors are eating alone.

Home Instead plans to counter that trend with what Copple calls the "Sunday Dinner Pledge."

"We're going to donate $1 to Meals on Wheels in both the U.S. and Canada -- up to $20,000 -- for each person who takes the Sunday Dinner Pledge," Copple said.

For seniors, Copple said, it's not what's on the plate that matters most at meal time, rather who is at the table with them. New research shows that 50 percent of families living near senior relatives believe they do not share enough meals with these older loved ones, losing an important family connection.

Home Instead will pledge money until July 31 for each person who commits to regularly scheduling family dinners with senior loved ones.

To sign up for the pledge, click HERE.