Meals on Wheels provides seniors with hot food
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MARQUETTE -- Homebound seniors won't have to worry about their next hot meal thanks to one local organization.
Community Action Alger-Marquette's Meals on Wheels provides a hot meal to seniors who are homebound or unable to prepare nutritious meals for themselves. Community Nutrition Services Director Oxsanna Stoken said there are 367 households in Marquette County that utilize Meals on Wheels and 124 in Alger County.
The majority of funding comes from the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress. Additional funding comes from the Older Americas Act, passed in 1965 with the goal of supporting older Americans to live at home and in the community with dignity and independence for as long as possible.
"UPCAP gives us our major amount of funding we in Marquette County we have a millage," Stoken said. "Part of the millage for senior citizens helps us with the Meals on Wheels and there's a suggested donation of $3.50 by the senior themselves."
She said each meal costs around $8.50. Seniors are asked to donate $3.50 and UPCAP gives $3.50 for each meal. However, there is still $1.50 that needs to be covered.
"So as you can see, even if the senior donates and UPCAAP gives us $3.50, we're still seeking other funding to help run this program," Stoken said.
Stoken said donations would help the program due to the higher costs for food and gas to continue supporting seniors.
Last year, on average, only 38% of seniors were able to help donate.
"We never refuse anyone any meal they can't pay, it's just a suggested donation," Stoken said. "Nobody is refused for inability to pay."
Eligibility requirements for home delivered meals include:
≤ You or your spouse must be 60-years-old or older.
≤ You must be homebound and cannot leave your home without assistance.
≤ You are unable to prepare meals and you have no one nearby to prepare your meals.
Through Meals on Wheels, seniors are also checked in on by their drivers when delivering meals.
"The time that they spend talking and interacting with their driver is important to combat loneliness and to give them that needed social interaction for the day," she said.
Stoken said the organization is looking for more drivers in the Munising area. Those interested can call 906-228-6522 for more information or by going to communityactionam.org/meals-on-wheels.