POMEROY — The Meigs County Council on Aging is well into the annual March for Meals, a project to raise money for the home delivered meal program to supplement the declining funds to feed homebound seniors provided by federal and state agencies.

A highlight of the month-long fund drive is the annual cake baking contest and auction to be held at a public dinner on March 28 at the Senior Center.

This year the cake categories are chocolate, fruit and/or vegetable (like carrot, apple or spice), yellow or white cakes, miscellaneous like cheesecake, pound or coffee cake and decorated cakes.

Cakes are to be taken to the Center by 4 p.m. on March 28 and the judging will begin at 5:30 p.m. There is no limit on the number of cakes any one person can submit.

The cakes will be judged on a point system in each category. For everything but the decorated cakes, the cakes are judges and awarded points for appearance and texture, 30 points each, and taste, 40 points. For the decorated cakes, the judging is for appearance, 60 points, and taste, 40 points. First and second place awards will be given in each category.

The grand champion in each category will receive $50, the reserve grand champion $25. Announcement of the winners will be made at 6:15 p.m. after which an auction of the cakes will take place. All baked goods should be displayed on a disposable container or a box with a lid. All of the proceeds will go to benefit those the home-delivered meal program.

Currently there are about 80 homebound senior citizens who depend on the Council on Aging for a nutritious meal. Federal funding every year declines and while some levy funds go into the program it still falls short of providing enough money to buy the food, prepare and deliver it to those in need.

Several projects are under way at the Senior Center to fill the finances needed to sustain the program.