Transcript Staff

Meals on Wheels annual poinsettia sale benefits Meals on Wheels of Norman, a United Way of Norman agency. The agency provides nutritious noontime meals to the ill, elderly and homebound residents in Norman.

Summer McGuire, associate director of Meals on Wheels, said the poinsettias make great holiday gifts or lovely decorations for the home.

"Each year I am amazed at the beauty and fullness of the poinsettias," McGuire said. "They really are definitely quality plants."

"This year Meals on Wheels has set a goal to sell 4,000 poinsettias, to date we still need to sell about 2,000 more plants," said McGuire. "It is not too late to place your order. We will be accepting orders through Dec. 3 when the plants arrive at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds. By reaching the goal of selling 4,000 poinsettias, Meals on Wheels can insure that 6,560 meals are provided to clients in need of financial assistance."

In the past two years, Meals on Wheels has experienced a 15 percent increase of clients needing our service with an overwhelming majority of the new clients falling on the lower end of the sliding fee scale for meal costs. The increased cost of living and rising pharmaceutical costs is creating an even heavier weight than ever for the funds raised from the Poinsettia Sale to Meals on Wheels, McGuire said.

"The poinsettia sale is our largest fund raiser of the year and it's even more imperative that we raise the needed funds this year," said McGuire.

McGuire also said Meals on Wheels would like to issue a challenge to the Norman community to purchase a poinsettia and donate it back to a Meals on Wheels' client that may be alone during the holidays.

"Our vision is to once again provide the 300 clients that receive meals with a poinsettia to brighten their holidays," McGuire said. "We have been able to do this the past couple of years because of the outstanding support of the community. At this time, the Norman community has donated 200 poinsettias back to our clients. We are very excited that we will be able to provide these clients with a beautiful plant for the holidays, but we are still in need of 100 more plants to be donated."

Poinsettias are available in two different sizes and in red, white or pink. The cost for the 6 inch poinsettias is $10 each. The larger eight inch plants are $20 each.

Poinsettia may be picked up 9 a.m. -7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 615 E. Robinson St.

"We are also in need of volunteers to deliver poinsettias on Dec.. 3 and to help out at the pick-up site that day, as well," said McGuire.

Poinsettias will be delivered, free of charge, Dec. 3 for orders of five or more poinsettias or to homebound residents.

"Ordering poinsettias from Meals on Wheels is a great way to decorate your house and contribute to a worthy cause who is in desperate need of your help," McGuire said.

To place a poinsettia order or sign up to deliver poinsettias, call 321-7272 or by e-mail at summer@mealsonwheelsnorman.com. Poinsettias may also be ordered online at mealsonwheelsnorman.com.