Every once in a while, I go with a volunteer driver to deliver a meal to a homebound senior. I am consistently struck by how happy the person becomes when we arrive. Smiles and pleasantries are shared before we are off to do it all again somewhere else. Another home, another meal, another smile.

And then there are the community dining rooms where seniors come together to laugh, catch up on “goin’ ons” in town and eat lunch with their peers.

Meals for ME, a program of Eastern Area Agency on Aging, would like to expand the program and serve even more people. You can help us make that goal a reality.

Alan Shawn Feinstein, a millionaire from Cranston, R.I., has a goal of ending hunger in the United States. For each of the past 10 years he has donated $1 million to organizations across the country that provide food to people in need. His funds are used as a match for money raised by the food programs between March 1 and April 30. He calls this philanthropic event the Feinstein Challenge.

Meals for ME is taking that challenge again this year. All donations that we receive, during March and April, will be eligible for a small portion of Feinstein’s $1 million.

“This is a really wonderful thing that he does every year,” said Rob Crone, director of nutrition at EAAA. “As government funding shrinks and demand for services increases, it’s more important than ever before to look to the private sector for help.”

For some time now, the number of meal donations has fluctuated depending on the economy. Yet, through good times and bad, every elderly person who desired a meal received one.

“It is definitely difficult sometimes, but we would never, ever turn someone away,” said Crone. “Less money often means cutting back of some of the special extras.”

These extras make a difference. From a decorated cake for a holiday celebration to fresh produce, Meals for ME tries to make lunch something to look forward to for the thousands of seniors it serves.

“Whether the patron is receiving a home-delivered meal or is visiting one of our many community dining rooms, we want their lunch to be special,” Crone said. “For the homebound, the volunteer delivery driver is often the only personal contact that the person will have during the course of a day. In addition to the nutrition of the meal, it is a nice check-in mechanism.”

The dining rooms have their own appeal and benefits, he added.

“If there was not a dining room for the seniors to come to, a great many of them would be eating lunch alone in front of the TV,” Crone said. “The dining rooms provide companionship for these people that they might not otherwise have.”

This is music to Feinstein’s ears. He believes that we are each put on this earth to help those in need. His $1 million will go a long way toward that end, as the money is divided proportionally among all agencies that take the challenge. The amount raised dictates the amount of the match.

“We hope to raise $10,000 this year,” Crone said. “It is always exciting to see how supportive the community is when we start getting donations.”

Of course, all donations are tax-deductible.

If you would like to take the Feinstein Challenge, make out a check to Meals for ME Challenge and mail to Meals for ME, 450 Essex St., Bangor 04401, or deliver your donation to EAAA or your local Meals for ME dining room. You may also donate online at EAAA.org.

Carol Higgins Taylor is director of communications at Eastern Area Agency on Aging. E-mail Higgins Taylor at chtaylor@eaaa.org. For information on EAAA, call 941-2865, toll-free 800-432-7812, e-mail info@eaaa.org or log on EAAA.org. TTY 992-0150.