Volunteers say Citrus County gift shop donates all proceeds to Meals on Wheels

Tina Rohrer, a volunteer with a Citrus County community gift shop, told attendees the group donates all of the store’s proceeds to Meals on Wheels and seeks to keep prices low by using volunteer labor. “At the end of the year, all of our proceeds go to Meals on Wheels,” Rohrer said.

An unidentified volunteer said the shop supports the local Meals on Wheels program, which she said serves “about 300 people,” with some recipients receiving hot meals Monday through Friday. “By helping them with this meal, it does help them to keep themselves strong and healthy and keep them out of the hospital or the nursing homes,” the volunteer said.

The volunteers reported cumulative donations of more than $75,000 to Meals on Wheels since 2010. “We have given them over $75,000 since 2010,” a speaker said. The shop’s volunteers emphasized that because they are unpaid they can offer merchandise at low prices — one example offered was a matching necklace and earrings for $7.

Organizers invited community members to visit the shop during its posted hours. Tina Rohrer said the shop is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and encouraged local residents to “come see us and help support Meals on Wheels.”

The presentation was brief and focused on describing the gift shop’s mission and its financial support of the Meals on Wheels program. The speakers did not present documentation in this session to verify the donation totals or the program’s enrollment figures; those claims are reported as stated by volunteers.