Agency improves capacity to provide meals for homebound

Special to the Daily Mail

The Nevada Senior Center, operated by District III Area Agency on Aging, continues to build and expand its home-delivered meal program, delivering hot, nutritious meals to homebound seniors living in and around Nevada.

District III has received a $48,500 grant from the Altria Group, Inc. to expand home delivered meals throughout the 13-county area it serves. Half the funds were distributed in 2003 and half are being distributed now. Senior centers within District III received those funds based on performance. The Nevada Senior Center received an additional $421.34 of these funds that were used to deliver an additional 137 home delivered meals.

"As the elderly population increases in our service area, we see greater demand for our home-delivered meal service," said Ray Diekemeier, who is the executive director of District III.

"In the last year, we have had to be very careful as we expand our program, to ensure we can continue this expansion into the future, particularly in light of the state budget situation. Through this support from Altria companies, we have been able to expand our Vernon County meal program, assuring homebound seniors that they will receive at least one nutritious meal each day." I In 2000, more than 44 million Americans were 60 or older, with 4 million 85 or older -- the fastest growing segment of the elderly population. Within Vernon County, a full 20.5 percent of the population is 60 and older, compared with 18 percent statewide, and 12 percent nationwide.

America's Second Harvest, a network of more than 215 food banks and food rescue organizations, estimates that 1.1 million elderly people in the United States skip meals because they cannot afford to purchase nutritious foods, or their physical condition limits their ability to shop for foods.

"The Altria family of Companies is committed to the fight against hunger and to supporting organizations that are working to meet immediate needs and develop long-term solutions in their communities," said Jennifer Goodale, vice president, contributions, Altria Corporate Services, Inc.

Senior Helpings, in partnership with the National Meals-on-Wheels Foundation, provides support to hunger relief organizations that serve frail, homebound elderly. Since its inception in 1995, the program has provided more than four million meals to senior citizens across the country.

District III Area Agency on Aging received a $50,000 grant from the Altria Family of Companies in 2000 for the same purpose.

"We are exceedingly grateful for the on-going support Altria has provided for meals served to the homebound elderly throughout District III," Ray Diekemeier stated. "Their support has made a significant difference in our ability to expand the homebound meal program in rural areas, particularly in light of declining state revenues. We are hopeful their support will encourage other companies to support this important effort, allowing our older friends, family members and neighbors to remain in their homes, and in our communities."