Meals on Wheels of Chapel Hill and Carrboro is hosting a fundraiser dinner Thursday at Hickory Tavern. The organization will use the money to help provide daily lunches to local senior citizens.

For some senior citizens, health problems and limited mobility can make putting together a mid-day meal a near-impossible undertaking. Meals on Wheels makes sure more than 150 local seniors who can’t stand over the stove still get a hot lunch.

“Our volunteers come, bring a hot meal that’s prepared by K&W and a warm smile, often special little gifts from school children in their area, spend a few minutes visiting and just allow those people to remain independent in their own homes,” says Executive Director of Chapel Hill and Carrboro Meals on Wheels Stacey Yusko.

Yusko says the organization is holding its fundraiser “Dining for Dollars,” because it needs money to help subsidize the cost of the lunches it provides. Yusko says a growing number of local seniors need help paying for their meals.

“We have also found that an increasing percentage of the people we serve are dealing with poverty,” says Yusko. “In 1996 I think Meals on Wheels only had to pay about 30 percent of the cost. This year, we’re paying 75 percent. There’s been a huge change in the amount that we have to fundraise. It’s completely changed the complexion of the organization.”

Dining for Dollars will be held Thursday from 6 pm to 9 pm at Hickory Tavern in Carrboro. Ticket-holders will receive dinner at Hickory Tavern and can bid on auction items. You can buy tickets online here.