SIDNEY — The year 2017 marks the 21st year of serving the community with hot lunchtime meals for Nutrition Services of Shelby County.
“In 2016 we provided over 40,000 meals to senior citizens in their homes and at our congregate sites,” said Director Connie Wright.
Her report continues:
The Home Delivered Meal Program has three routes that provide a hot meal Monday through Friday to all of Shelby County. Last year we logged 40,000 miles. This program enables senior citizens to remain independent and living in their own homes. Our program is much more than just a hot meal. Our drivers are a “friendly face” and many times are the only contact with the outside world each day. They also provide a daily check on the clients’ well-being. We have been the ones that alert families to problems such as increased confusion or a decline in their loved one’s health. We have called 911 to dispatch EMT’s for critical issues.
If you are looking for a useful gift for a homebound senior (ages 60 and up) please contact us. We can provide short-term or long-term meals. Consider contacting us if you are a homebound senior and are finding it hard to provide for your nutritional needs. For short term use, this is a valuable service when returning home from a surgery or therapy. It can simplify the transition back to independent living.
Nutrition Services also has four Congregate Meal sites. All of these meal sites are for those over the age of 60 (and spouse). One site is located at the Senior Center of Sidney & Shelby County. Anyone over the age of 60 can join us for lunch on Monday through Friday, starting at 11 a.m. (membership to the Senior Center is not required.)
Our second site is located at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Botkins. Lunch is served on Tuesdays at approximately noon. Our third congregate site, “Maple Leaf Diner,” is located at Fair Haven. This site provides a meal for those visitors age 60 who may be visiting a loved one at Fair Haven and wish to share a meal with them.
Our newest site is a voucher program that began in Sept., 2016, at Clancy’s Restaurant. Vouchers are distributed by Nutrition Services and they can be redeemed at Clancy’s for a choice of four senior breakfasts.
In 2016 we were also pleased to provide a senior breakfast during the Shelby County Fair.
Any business, civic organization or church that would be willing to host one of these sites in your area in Shelby County, call Fair Haven 937-492-6900 and ask for the Nutrition Services Coordinator Darlene Prater.
