Family Service Rochester goes online for meal-delivery fundraiser

This year’s Denim & Diamonds Meals on Wheels fundraiser by Family Service Rochester (FSR) goes online.

The funds raised from a virtual silent auction, games, and donations this weekend will go to Meals on Wheels , a nation-wide program that delivers hot, nutritious meals to seniors living independently at home.

That program has become enormously important since the beginning of the pandemic.

Related: Fundraisers feel coronavirus pinch
Rochester’s traditional program -- the delivery of one meal over the noon hour to seniors at home -- has seen a 50 percent increase since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release. Family Services has also begun delivering additional meals to recipients to “build a reserve of food,” taken meals to homeless individuals sheltered by Olmsted County, and delivered to people who were quarantined while they waited for test results.

The program has also supported Channel One and Rochester Public Schools’ food boxes, and distributed donations from local groceries to seniors at home and in living centers.

Related: Rochester food drop continues to demonstrate need City and local nonprofits provide food for families at four locations.
Ticket holders, who purchased access early, will be able to play virtual games and bid on auction items Thursday.

The general public will receive access to the games and auctions at 9 a.m. Friday. Participants must register for a bidder number at familyservicerochester.org/denimdiamonds .

On Saturday, a video on Meals and Wheels’ role in COVID-19 care will be presented. The silent auction will go offline between 7:30 and 8 p.m., while games end at 8:15.

On Sunday, Family Services will publish another video sharing the auction results and fundraising impact.

Auction winners can pick up their items at Family Service Rochester’s south location, 1625 US. 14 E., between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday .

If You Go

What: Denim & Diamonds Online Fundraiser

When: 9 a.m. Friday, June 5, 8:15 p.m. Saturday, June 6

Link: familyservicerochester.org/denimdiamonds

Share your own videos to www.facebook.com/familyservicerochester .