Walmart Foundation grant provides catering van for Senior Resources’ Meals on Wheels program
August 31, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – Senior Resources has received a $50,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving program to fund the purchase of a catering van that will be used to deliver meals to seniors.
Walmart officials, Senior Resources Board of Directors, staff and community leaders gathered today at Colonial Life to unveil the new van, which is equipped to transport both hot and cold meals for distribution. The van will primarily be used to deliver a week’s worth of frozen meals to clients who live in remote areas and cannot be efficiently served by a daily hot-meal route.
“The meals we serve to homebound seniors and disabled adults are prepared by Iacafano’s Catering, whose chef takes care to make sure the meals provide one-third of their daily nutritional requirements,” said Senior Resources Executive Director Pam Dukes. “By providing this van, Walmart is supporting us in our efforts to ensure that every meal is delivered safely and in a timely manner.”
According to the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger (NFESH), South Carolina ranks 8th-worst in the nation for senior hunger. Eighteen-percent of South Carolina’s senior citizens are threatened with hunger, and Senior Resources is the only provider of Meals on Wheels services in Richland County.
“The Walmart Foundation is excited to support Senior Resources’ Meals on Wheels program,” said Brooke Mueller, Director of Public Affairs for Walmart. “Through this grant, we can help address the growing demand for meals and services.”
In 2014, community giving in South Carolina from Walmart stores, clubs and the Walmart Foundation totaled $31.9 million.
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 program, Foster Grandparent program, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.
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.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. We have stores in 28 countries, employing more than 2.2 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. We are helping people live better by accelerating upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where we operate and inspiring our associates to give back. Whether it is helping to lead the fight against hunger in the United States with $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations or supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment through a series of grants totaling $10 million to the Women in Factories training program in Bangladesh, China, India and Central America, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are not only working to tackle key social issues, we are also collaborating with others to inspire solutions for long-lasting systemic change. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit www.foundation.walmart.com.
