Night of a Million Meals: A Virtual Twist
MOWCM’s annual culinary celebration, Night of a Million Meals was presented virtually for the first time on May 17th, 2021! The evening began with an introduction from Brad and Nikki Bozeman of the Baltimore Ravens and The Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation. The event then moved into three cooking demonstrations from signature chefs Jerry Edwards (Chef’s Expressions at the Manor), Anthony Franklin (COSIMA), and Jason Hisley (Cake by Jason). While the chefs prepared their selections on-screen, attendees joined the fun with their home-delivered tasting kits featuring the dishes presented. Throughout the event, guests enjoyed ‘mission moments’
and special appearances from clients such as Charlene and Sallie who shared the importance of MOWCM services to their lives, as well as a special appearance by Home Shopping Network Craft Expert and MOWCM volunteer, Beth Kingston. While the program played, viewers had the opportunity to bid on dozens of silent auction packages virtually. We had a blast presenting our first virtual fundraising event! Special thanks to our sponsors, signature chefs, and all who participated.
Charm City Run: “Live.Give.Run. Virtual Race Challenge”
The “Live.Give.Run. Virtual Race Challenge” hosted by Charm City Run was a virtual race (5k, 10k, half, and full marathon) in which 512 participants walked or ran their races anytime between February 19–28th, 2021. The flexibility of the virtual run eliminated large crowds and allowed for participants to choose the perfect time and weather for them. The net proceeds from the event were split between two organizations, MOWCM and Baltimore Community Foundation COVID-19 Evolving Community Needs Fund. Will Murdoch of Charm City Run Events comments, “Running and walking can change lives under normal circumstances, but when people can come together and run to support people in our community during a crisis, it shows how truly impactful those actions can be. We’re proud to play a small part in helping Meals on Wheels achieve their mission and help our neighbors in need.”
Maryland Food Truck Week
Operating a food truck involves a lot of hard work, perseverance, and very long days. Oftentimes, food truck owners don’t have enough time left to promote their businesses. In 2017, Maryland Food Truck Week was born to raise awareness and elevate the unique cuisines of local food trucks. The summer event gives Maryland food trucks a marketing platform by featuring various trucks every day at locations throughout the state. This helps the public discover meals they never would have known about otherwise in a COVID-friendly outdoor environment.
Maryland Food Truck Week was established to promote small businesses in local communities. Partnering with a local nonprofit aligns perfectly with this mission, and we are thrilled to be the beneficiary. Willy Dely, owner of Au Jus Solutions says, “Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland offers a very close synergy with Maryland Food Truck Week as both are mobile, in the same footprint, and always more than a meal. 2020 and 2021 have been tough for everyone but if there is something positive to learn from it, it’s the resilience of the community who never stopped supporting each other. While we don’t know what tomorrow will bring to us, we want to invite everyone to enjoy the moment, safely, with a delicious meal.”