30 Faces of Meals on Wheels Chicago – Interview with Board Member Amy McCarty

As part of our 30 Faces of Meals on Wheels Chicago series to celebrate our 30th year, we recently sat down with board member Amy McCarty, partner at Monahan Law Group, to hear how MOWC’s mission is important to her.

I have long been involved in hunger-related charities. My mother was an active volunteer in our community as I was growing up, and she instilled in me the desire to help others. In college, I babysat for one of the families who owned Zingerman’s Deli. They are one of the founders of Food Gatherers, a nonprofit which works to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes in the Ann Arbor community. I volunteered as a development associate and helped run their annual Grillin’ fundraiser for several years. Through this work I developed a passion for active engagement in hunger relief.

When I moved to Chicago, I worked with abused and neglected children in Juvenile Court, but I sought out opportunities to continue with hunger relief. In 2010, through the recruitment of Chandra Ram, I volunteered at the Meals on Wheels Chicago Celebrity Chef Ball. Now, I sit on its board of directors and chair the resource development committee, raising the necessary funds to support our home-delivered meals programs for mobility-restricted seniors and people with disabilities.

As a guardianship and probate attorney, Meals on Wheels’ mission resonates with me. Every day, I work with seniors and persons with disabilities who are struggling to maintain their independence. They desperately need nutritious meals that allow them to remain in their homes and in their communities. As a board member, I help Meals on Wheels Chicago to achieve its mission, so that we may serve as many people as possible. Aging is a fact of life. My mother taught me the importance of supporting the generations that came before. I hope to teach my own daughter, Amelia, that helping those less fortunate is everyone’s responsibility. When I tell people I am on the board of Meals on Wheels Chicago, they tell me how much they love what we do. And what is not to love? We provide food and companionship for those who are hungry and lonely. It does not get simpler or more important than that.

Thank you Amy, and everyone at Monahan Law Group, for your generous support.  #MOWCHeroes