Deliver Meals To Homebound Residents During Community Champions Week March 21-25th
Hunterdon County Commissioners and elected officials delivered more than forty meals to county seniors and homebound individuals during national Community Champions week, March 21 – 25th, and recognized the 50th Anniversary of the Older American Act Nutrition Program, Commissioner Shaun C. Van Doren reported.
Commissioner Van Doren, the Board’s Human Services liaison, said, “It is always rewarding to volunteer with Meals on Wheels Hunterdon (MOWH) and to help improve the overall health and wellness of the elderly and disabled. The food that is delivered daily on weekdays provides hot, nutritious meals to the most vulnerable people in the community.”
At its April 5th meeting, the county board approved proclamations honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program and Meals On Wheels Hunterdon.
Delivery participants included County Clerk Mary Melfi, Prosecutor Renee Robeson, Sheriff Fred W. Brown, Commissioner Susan J. Soloway, Milford Mayor Henry Schepens, Bethlehem Township Mayor Paul Muir and Commissioner Shaun C. Van Doren.
“It is important to note that the Meals on Wheels program operated throughout the pandemic, providing a vital lifeline to the homebound residents of Hunterdon County. Protecting the health of senior citizens by providing home-delivery, allowed seniors to stay in their own homes and out of expensive assisted care living facilities,” Van Doren commented.
The 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program is federal legislation that helps to fund community-based programs such as MOWH. The annual March For Meals campaign week helps to raise awareness for the growing number of older adults in need of food assistance and the increasing need for volunteers.
Van Doren continued, “Grant funding was awarded to MOHW this past February and will cover the operation of these programs for the next three calendar years. Delivering more than 30,000 meals annually for the past thirty years emphasizes the need for this program.”
MOWH has two nutrition sites in Hunterdon County, at the Senior Center, 4 Gauntt Place in Flemington and in Lebanon at the Church of the Holy Spirit on Haytown Road.
Volunteers assist staff at nutrition sites packaging and delivering meals between 8 am and 1 pm, Monday through Friday, and training is provided for new volunteers.
“Volunteers often spend less than two hours a week preparing meals and delivering them. I hope more county residents will consider volunteering with MOWH because delivered meals means independence, better health and is another example of how Hunterdon County is truly the best place to live,” Van Doren concluded.
To learn more about or volunteer with Meals On Wheels Hunterdon, visit https://mowih.org/, call (908) 284-0735 or email info@mowih.org.