Walking the aisles at the local grocery store is something some of us might take for granted, but Strack & Van Til understands there are those who don’t have that luxury. In fact, this year, more than 3,200 of your neighbors — 70% of them age 60 or older, and many experiencing acute or chronic illnesses — will get to eat only if meals are brought to them. Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana has filled this gap for more than  46 years, by delivering hot, nutritious meals to those in need.

From Monday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Sept. 8, Meals on Wheels of NWI will be the beneficiary of Strack & Van Til’s Checkout Challenge Round Up. Customers across the Region can round up their purchase to the nearest dollar when shopping at their local Strack & Van Til store. Those extra funds will be donated to the organization.

According to Director of Development Jenifer Okamura, funds donated to Meals on Wheels of NWI and through the Round Up will help cover the cost of providing meals, purchasing vans and raising awareness about how the organization can help Northwest Indiana.

Each day, volunteers drive a total of at least 50 routes, serving more than 10,000 meals per week to clients in Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper, Starke and Pulaski Counties, as well as preparing meals for the LaPorte County Meals on Wheels Program.

Okamura notes a new Rural County Expansion Program focuses on routes in Hebron, Kouts, Morocco, Kentland, Demotte, Rensselaer, Remington, Medaryville, Winamac, North Judson and Knox among other areas. The response and need in these rural areas, where access to fresh foods requires travel that can be more than 100 miles round trip, are significant. Meals delivered offer options and assistance to neighbors who cannot make long trips or who are homebound.

“The Checkout Challenge is an ideal collaboration for Meals on Wheels of NWI,” says CEO Ryan Elinkowski. “We are so grateful to the amazing Strack & Van Til customers who are investing in serving our Northwest Indiana neighbors. Thank you, Strack & Van Til for providing the platform and opportunity. Every penny given through the Checkout Challenge will benefit our community.”

Strack & Van Til continues their more than 94-year tradition of philanthropy by raising funds through the Checkout Challenge Round Up program to help organizations in the communities they serve throughout Northwest Indiana.

President Jeff Strack credits customer generosity and employee commitment for the success of Checkout Challenge Round Ups.

“Giving back to the communities we serve is just naturally a part of Strack & Van Til’s culture. We are incredibly grateful to our customers who contribute to these Round Up campaigns and make a difference in the lives of so many people,” Strack says. “Our customers are the best. They are the ones who give back to the community. Our stores, with the help of our employees, simply provide our customers with an outlet to donate to some of their favorite local organizations.”

Show your support for Meals on Wheels by participating in Strack & Van Til’s Checkout Challenge Round Up.

“Join us to see the impact the Checkout Challenge will have on Meals on Wheels NWI and help us deliver a meal,” says Okamura.

For more information on programs, to volunteer or to donate to Meals on Wheels NWI, visit mownwi.org.

To learn more about Strack & Van Til’s community involvement, visit strackandvantil.com/company/community-involvement.