Meals on Wheels of Rowan

Meals on Wheels of Rowan is hosting a gala event Saturday, May 2, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30pm at the F&M Trolley Barn, 125 E. Liberty St. in Downtown Salisbury. The, “Itchin’ for a Kitchen” Gala will benefit the organization’s capital campaign for a commercial kitchen to be added to their Spencer office at 1307 S. Salisbury Ave.

The event kicks off with a Kentucky Derby party with the race on a large-format screen. That will be followed by dinner provided by more than 25 local restaurants, caterers, beverage producers, wineries and breweries. There will be a wide array of food, beverages and desserts for a true taste of what Rowan County has to offer. The event will feature a Kentucky Derby-style hat contest, raffles and dancing.

“Meals on Wheels of Rowan needs its own kitchen to better serve the needs of our clients,” said Rita Sims, executive director, adding that they currently have a contract with two local restaurants to provide meals. “Right now, we’re serving 207 meals a day to homebound seniors and distributing them on 27 routes throughout the county.

“We can achieve a great deal of savings by consolidating our food preparation into our own commercial kitchen,” said Sims. “Plus, we can deliver a fresher and healthier menu by controlling the entire process. We foresee partnering with local farmers to provide the freshest fruits and vegetables.”

Sims said the cost for the project including the purchase of the building, the commercial kitchen and other items is expected to exceed $900,000 and this gala event will kick off their fundraising efforts.

The Kentucky Derby Party portion of the event, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., is being hosted by three local couples: Capri and Shawn Brixey, Karen and Jeff Martinez and Tracy and John McMillin. They have hosted their Kentucky Derby-watching party for several years and are thrilled to host their annual party as part of the Meals on Wheels of Rowan fundraising event.

Tickets are $60 for individuals or $100 per couple. You may send a check to Meals on Wheels of Rowan, P.O. Box 1914, Salisbury, NC  28145. To pay by credit card, visit the Meals on Wheels website at www.mowrowannc.org, or call Meals on Wheels of Rowan, Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., at 704-633-0352. You may also visit Meals on Wheels of Rowan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mowrowannc .