For the past 21 years, the Osceola Council on Aging has held its March for Meals St. Patrick’s 5k Run/Walk fundraising event to support our largest social service program, Meals on Wheels (MOW). With more than 600 participants and 35 teams last year, including individuals from Osceola, Orange, Brevard, and Lake County, we are expecting an even larger turnout next month.
Scheduled for Saturday, March 14 at Kissimmee Lakefront Park, the fundraiser will host runners and walkers of all ages. Individual participants are welcome to take part, along with groups of five or more for the “Team Challenge” category, with special recognition going to the “Most Spirited Team” and “Largest Team.”
Cash prizes will be awarded for the top ten male and female finishers, along with the top male and female senior runners, for those ages 65 and up. Children seven and under can enjoy a kids dash right after the 5k event has completed.
March for Meals is celebrated in more than 5,000 communities across the United States, to bring awareness that senior hunger, isolation, and food insecurity do exist in our nation. The initiative also mobilizes volunteers while highlighting the vital role nutrition services play in helping seniors remain healthy and independent in their homes.
The OCOA delivered nearly 125,000 meals in 2025. Despite those expansive efforts, the need for additional meals within our community continues to increase. More than 310 seniors in Osceola County are currently on a MOW service waiting list.
“Many seniors living in Osceola County live on low, monthly incomes. As the local cost-of-living increases, seniors on fixed incomes are heavily impacted, and why waiting lists continue to increase in our community,” said Rob Gilts, OCOA Senior Compliance officer.
That growing need, not just in our community, but across the nation, is why Meals on Wheels America titled this year’s national theme, “End the Wait.” Across the country, MOW providers are facing increased demand for meals within their regions, while resources remain stretched. Continued volunteer support, donations, and sustained funding are essential to ensure seniors do not go without food.
“March is an important time for us to work together to ensure Meals on Wheels is there for our senior neighbors in need,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “Despite efforts, Meals on Wheels providers struggle to address the volume of need in communities across the country.”
This history is especially meaningful for the OCOA as this year we celebrate our 55th anniversary as a social service organization. Founded in 1971, OCOA supported seniors even before the 1972 amendment to the Older Americans Act which provided federal funding for nutrition services for seniors ages 60 and over. Our program has expanded alongside the national MOW movement for more than five decades. Our continued commitment remains the same; ensuring seniors in Osceola County are served timely meals.
Those interested in participating in or sponsoring the March for Meals St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run can visit www. osceolagenerations.org or call 407-846-8532.
On-site registration begins at 6:45 a.m., with the race starting promptly at 8 a.m. at the Kissimmee Lakefront. The allday event will include post-race celebrations, vendor booths, music, entertainment, and an afternoon full of green themed St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Registration is $30 for adults (13 and older) and $25 for children (12 and under), with early registration through March 1.
