Gordon provides one-millionth Meals on Wheels delivery

STONEVILLE, N.C. -- Jeff Gordon has helped bring tackling hunger to the forefront of America's consciousness, driving the Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet SS throughout the NASCAR season.

On Thursday, he took matters into his own hands.

In teaming up with AARP Foundation, Meals on Wheels Association of America and Aging, Disability and Transit Services, Gordon delivered the one-millionth Meals on Wheels meal to a local North Carolina family.

“I get to do a lot of really cool things," Gordon said. "It’s opened my eyes so much to this cause and how many millions of people are dealing with hunger issues in America. And because of that, we get to do some pretty cool things. (Thursday) was definitely one of the highlights."

The recipient's name was Freida Evans, who at 89 years old has been living in Rockingham County for more than 60 years. The mother of five -- who recently became a great-great-grandmother -- has been receiving Meals on Wheels for two years.

"She’s the classic story of individuals who need those meals desperately because she worked so hard to feed her family throughout her whole life and gave everything for them," Gordon said. "And now, she relies on those meals. And it was pretty cool to be able to deliver that one-millionth meal for Meals on Wheels to her in the state of North Carolina."

Evans' late husband was a huge NASCAR fan, and she knew exactly who Gordon was when he walked into her home.

Gordon said meeting Evans made the occasion "very special."

"I spent some time with her in her home with her family and she is such a sweet lady," he said. "When you live this close to Martinsville, they said that at times they can actually hear the cars going around the track. Her husband, who had passed away, was a big NASCAR fan and a lot of her family members are big NASCAR fans. She is a big Richard Petty fan; even brought up Lee Petty’s name. So that was very special to be able to do that and to help somebody like that.”

Meals on Wheels Association of America is supported by two million dedicated volunteers who deliver a nutritious meal to 2.5 million seniors every year.

It goes hand-in-hand with the mission of Drive to End Hunger, which is the national effort by AARP and AARP Foundation to help the millions of older adults who face hunger across America. It is not only about raising funds, but raising awareness of the issue.

"We need more people to be aware of it to really get involved and make an impact," Gordon said. "And it starts in local communities and it spreads throughout the country and every little bit helps. Obviously Freida and her story and how important that meal was to her is the greatest way to spread that word.”