Meals on Wheels America awards $75,000 to Senior Resources to support hunger relief programs in Richland County
June 18, 2020
Meals on Wheels America, the leadership organization supporting more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger, awarded a $75,000 grant to Senior Resources to support Meals on Wheels and other hunger relief programs. Support from Meals on Wheels America will allow Senior Resources to serve vulnerable seniors who were not currently a client, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic have become food insecure, and have expressed a need for our services. As we concluded our Emergency Senior Nutrition Program in early June, survey results accessed 600 additional clients in our community that could benefit from emergency meal services.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is especially concerning for older adults in our community, where over 87% of all COVID deaths are from seniors over the age of 60,” said Andrew Boozer, Executive Director of Senior Resources. “Keeping seniors healthy and safe is more important now than ever before. The support of Meals on Wheels of America will provide nutritious emergency meals to seniors in ways that will enable them to stay physically distant while staying socially connected to our community.”
Thanks to the generous grant from Meals on Wheels America, we can serve nutritious, well balanced meals to more seniors in Richland County who are food insecure. In addition to meeting their nutritional needs, our Meals on Wheels program also addresses the social isolation felt by many of our clients, now more than ever in the wake of this pandemic. The daily delivery from our volunteer serves as a wellness check, and a continued connection to the community through a friendly interaction with the volunteer.
About Senior Resources, Inc.
Senior Resources is a non-profit organization that coordinates services, provides resources and encourages the personal choices that allow Columbia’s senior citizens to remain independent. All activities, services and programs of the agency are geared toward promoting independent living, with the goal of helping seniors remain in their homes as long as possible through the support of staff and volunteers, and delaying or preventing institutionalization.
Since 1967, Senior Resources has served Columbia’s frail and elderly residents in three areas:
1) In-home services, including Meals on Wheels, home care, respite care, senior companion services, and case management;
2) Community-based services, including congregate meals, wellness centers, transportation, and physical fitness;
3) Volunteer services, including the Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs.
With local, state and federal government funding, as well as contributions from United Way, personal donations and fundraising activities, Senior Resources offers a variety of programs so that our clients can select the assistance they need to maintain a healthy and independent lifestyle. With the support of our staff and volunteers, our services touch the lives of more than 4,000 Midlands residents.
About Meals on Wheels America
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information on Meals on Wheels America, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
