Active Generations announced today that its 2026 March for Meals campaign raised $125,000 to address senior hunger in the Sioux Empire. These funds will expand Active Generations’ Nutrition Program outreach, including congregate dining and Meals on Wheels home delivery for adults aged 60 and older.
“This year’s campaign reflects the generosity of our community,” said Wendy McDonnel, Development Director. “We are grateful for the support of more than 80 donors and local restaurant partners. The $52,000 commitment from our lead corporate sponsors, combined with this support, enables us to meet growing demand and continue serving adults across the region.”
Active Generations thanks lead sponsors Avera, Citi, Lewis Drug, Minnwest Bank, and First Premier Bank/PREMIER Bankcard for their combined $52,000 contribution, which anchored the campaign. Local restaurant partners such as R Wine Bar & Kitchen, Brix Wine Bar, Trio Jazz Club, Maribella Ristorante, and The Barrel House also contributed to the campaign’s success by donating 10% of one night’s sales.
“With the success of the campaign, we are launching targeted outreach in vulnerable areas where adults need meals,” Betsy Schuster, CEO and President, said. “We have seen a steady increase of 20 new participants per month this year, and these funds allow us to meet that demand directly and avoid starting a waitlist. By focusing on population demographics, we can identify more opportunities for our Nutrition Program to serve adults in need and enroll them more quickly.”
In 2025, Active Generations’ Nutrition Program provided over 281,000 meals to 5,400 individuals across the region. With approximately 52% of clients living in poverty, the funds raised through March for Meals are essential to keeping the Nutrition Program accessible and affordable.
“We are increasingly reliant on the generosity of our neighbors,” Schuster said. “Local donors and corporate partners make it possible to keep these services affordable and help seniors in our region age in place. We also could not serve the community without our many volunteers and partner sites, who meet participants where they are and get them meals every weekday.”
For more information about Active Generations’ Nutrition Program, Meals on Wheels, or how to get involved, visit activegenerations.org.
