This year, Mobile Meals is celebrating 45 years of bringing food and hope to the homebound seniors of Knox County. The second annual Power of the Purse is scheduled for Thursday, September 22, 2016. The event includes a purse sale, Celebrity Corner (purses donated by local celebrities), luncheon, and silent auction. The fun begins with Purse Madness, where over 800 purses donated from local businesses and community members, will be on display and for sale in a range of prices. Each purse purchase will include a surprise gift. After Purse Madness, attendees will enjoy lunch, silent auction, and browsing in our Celebrity Corner. Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of items such as designer purses packaged with event tickets, jewelry, gift certificates, celebrity-signed merchandise, and other donated goodies. Entertainment will be provided by the Akima Singers and a reflective video presentation celebrating the impact of Mobile Meals for the past 45 years will end the celebration.
Last September, more than 300 people packed the Rothchild Conference Center- purchasing purses, bidding on silent auction items, and enjoying lunch, while helping 900-plus seniors in Knox County live safely and independently in their own homes. The first annual Power of the Purse raised enough funds to serve an additional 30 seniors for an entire year (7,525 meals).
Thursday, September 22
Doors open at 10:30 a.m.
Purse Madness 11:00 a.m. Sharp!
12:00 Lunch and Program
Emcee: Lori Tucker, WATE
Rothchild Conference Center
8807 Kingston Pike, 37923
Tickets: $40 (individual); $300 (table of 8)
Call 541-4500 to purchase or go to knoxseniors.org
Power of the Purse also allows Mobile Meals the opportunity to reach many new supporters, meal recipients, volunteers, and community advocates. We are seeing a steady increase of seniors in their late 80s, that are still living in their homes, requesting help from Mobile Meals. We are currently serving 114 clients that are 87 years old or older, 57 of those clients started in 2016. “What we are finding is that many people are living longer than ever before and are not seeing a health decline until much later in life. Without the funds raised from Power of Purse, meeting this increased need would be difficult,” says program Manager Judith Pelot.
Mobile Meal volunteers deliver meals Monday-Friday from 10:00 am to noon in every zip code in Knox County. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Shelly Woodrick, Mobile Meals Volunteer Coordinator, at 865-524-2786 or shelly.woodrick@knoxseniors.org.
To learn more about Mobile Meals or participate in Power of the Purse for next year, contact the Mobile Meals office at 865-524-2786 or go to www.knoxseniors.org/mobile.html
Mobile Meals is actively seeking community partners each day!
