Greene County Meals on Wheels looking for help
Agency unable to provide food to all who need it
The Greene County Meals on Wheels program is looking for additional help to shore up the program after funding cuts left it unable to reach everyone who wanted a meal.
Blueprints manages the program as a subcontractor for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging, which receives a mix of state and federal funding for the program, said Stacy Stroman, director of Blueprints无毛视频� Aging Well program.
That funding, flat for many years, was cut by 2.25% in the last fiscal year, Stroman said.
Last December marked the first time the Area Agency on Aging had to put people on a waiting list. Thirteen people are now waiting for home-delivered meals in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e getting calls from families when their loved ones are being discharged from a hospital and they don无毛视频檛 have family nearby and they need a home delivery meal or a safety check too, but we can无毛视频檛 provide that, where we used to be able to provide that next day,无毛视频� she said.
Stroman said the department is looking for $15,000 to $20,000, which would go toward paying for basic equipment such as program supplies and containers for the meals, which are delivered Monday through Friday to homebound elderly.
Last year, the Meals on Wheels program delivered 46,609 meals to 304 residents in Greene County, Stroman said.
In addition to providing nourishment, the volunteers are also trained to report back any medical changes or issues with a person无毛视频檚 condition, Stroman said. If a person doesn无毛视频檛 answer the door, staff will reach out to the emergency contact, and even call 911 as a last resort.
无毛视频淚t really is a vital program,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 really important. It无毛视频檚 something that we need to continue and help meet the needs.无毛视频�
The Meals on Wheels kitchen in Waynesburg prepares around 200 hot meals a day for home-delivered meals, plus ones delivered to congregate sites, said central kitchen site supervisor Jessie Rush. Rush said they are also seeking additional driers for routes in Carmichaels.
无毛视频淓very senior has a story,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淓very senior无毛视频檚 had a job, and so for them to be in need like they are of a meal or of help, sometimes they无毛视频檙e like, 无毛视频極h, I like I shouldn无毛视频檛 be in need,无毛视频� but they无毛视频檝e already taken care of everybody. They无毛视频檝e already paved the way for so many people, and it无毛视频檚 our turn to make sure that they have what they need.无毛视频�
The meals are put together by a nutritionist, which could contribute to people being able to live independently at home for longer, said Trenna Passalacqua, chief executive officer of Blueprints.
无毛视频淚 think there无毛视频檚 direct and indirect benefits that are associated with this program and it无毛视频檚 something that we无毛视频檝e experienced for decades because we无毛视频檝e been honored and valued the relationship that we have with the Area Agency on Aging and all of the support systems that we collaborate with in Greene County,无毛视频� she said.
Blueprints has called some private individuals for help with the funding, Passalacqua said. They无毛视频檙e also encouraging members of the public to call the Blueprints office and ask how they can help, whether with funding or volunteering.
无毛视频淲ithout the volunteers, I can无毛视频檛 stress enough: this just would not be possible,无毛视频� Passalacqua said.
Anyone interested can contact Stroman at 724-852-2893, ext. 543.