Food backup for senior snow days
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Published: January 12, 2009
Elder Connection is published in larger type for the benefit of our senior readers.
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Today, I have a guest column written by Pat Harrison, R.D., a member of SVCOA's Nutrition Services Department:
Two feet of snow the week before Christmas and already some school snow days and delays and cancellations of Meals on Wheels deliveries due to icy roads. Enter the Blizzard Bag. In recent days, many local seniors received a bundle of shelf-stable foods to have as emergency stash if a storm or "no delivery" day occurs.
Each year, the Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging coordinates, assembles and delivers bundles of nutritious, shelf-stable foods to more than 800 homebound or isolated seniors in Rutland and Bennington counties. These Blizzard Bags contain a variety of foods including cereal, fruit, tuna, chicken, vegetables, cookies, crackers, juice, pudding, milk and water, and are intended to provide meals and snacks for an entire day when a weather emergency occurs.
Blizzard Bags are made possible in large part due to the support of many community businesses and religious organizations, as well as individuals, schools, Meals on Wheels and the United Way. Pepsi Cola of Burlington donated bottled water. Hannaford, Price Chopper, Grand Union, Shaw's, Walmart and Mac's provided products or gift certificates/discounts to purchase food items. Hannaford saved us banana boxes for weeks to enable us to assemble and box up the Blizzard Bags. Hannaford also donated a recyclable bag for each bundle. Westminster Cracker donated saltines and oyster crackers. Walmart gave us grant money to help fund the project. A few individual community members sent in a financial donation and the United Way provided some financial support. The donations helped to provide about 40 percent of the cost of the contents. The Council on Aging, together with donations from recipients, supplied the remainder.
Several churches and religious organizations in Rutland, Manchester and Bennington were asked to assist. We collected fruit, juice, apple sauce and orange juice at multiple locations in Rutland and Bennington County. We asked for specific items to meet nutritional guidelines and were met with over 3,500 servings of a product for the bag. Thank you everyone.
Students from West Rutland School helped with preassembly. Rutland Area Christian School provided the "manpower" on assembly day. Fitz-Vogt and Meals on Wheels helped with menu planning, food procurement and Blizzard Bag assembly and delivery. AmeriCorps members and staff from the Council on Aging donated candy treats and assisted with assembly and delivery. Meals on Wheels drivers and volunteers delivered the bundles.
As a result of the charitable support from many segments of the community, we have been able to increase the contents of the Blizzard Bags each year. We thank everyone who participated in the project. We encourage those who received the bags to save them for an emergency or bad weather day. Send in a donation if you can. Enjoy the meals knowing they are the product of a supportive and caring community working together to provide you with nutritious meals for a blustery day this winter.
Barbara Hanson is director of community resource development for the Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging. For information about senior services, call the Senior Helpline at (800) 642-5119 or 786-5991 or visit www.svcoa.org.
Meals on Wheels
Today: Shepherd's pie, mashed potatoes, peas and mushrooms, toppers.
Tuesday: Macaroni & cheese, green beans, biscuit, pineapple upside-down cake.
Wednesday: Roast pork with sauce, sweet potato, Harvard beets, wheat rolls, fruited gelatin.
Thursday: Chipped beef, boiled potatoes, mixed vegetables, rye bread, chocolate chip cookies.
Friday: Chicken Parmesan, linguine with sauce, mixed beans, Italian bread, orange.
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