FREDONIA – Chautauqua County representatives recently visited the new updated Meals on Wheels kitchen at the State University of New York at Fredonia, this after the Chautauqua County Office for the Aging began a new partnership with the Faculty Student Association (FSA) of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia in April.
FSA SUNY is now preparing all of the meals for delivery to Meals on Wheels participants in Brocton, Dunkirk, Forestville, Fredonia, Irving, Portland, Sheridan, and Silver Creek. It also prepares meals for the Office for the Aging’s five Congregate Dining sites in the North County.
These dining sites include the Star Apartments in Brocton, Steger Apartments in Dunkirk, Concord Estates in Fredonia, Fire Hall in Forestville; and food is also provided to the Dunkirk Adult Day Care Program located at St. John’s Church on Central Avenue.
“This change has really energized the program,” said Dr. Mary Ann Spanos, Director of the Chautauqua County Office for the Aging. “The quality and variety of meals have brought many people who left back to the program and new people are signing up every day. We are very excited to have FSA SUNY join our team to bring high-quality nutrition to older adults in our county.”
“I appreciate this partnership between Chautauqua County and the SUNY Fredonia FSA to provide high quality meals to seniors in our county,” said George Borrello, Chautauqua County Executive. “These meals are part of the many services provided to our seniors that are so critical for their quality of life.”
Currently, there are an average of 5,031 meals delivered on a monthly basis and around 90 to 100 seniors who receive meals at the OFA’s five congregate meal sites on any given day in Northern Chautauqua County. OFA also offers a Restaurant Dining Out Program. All programs provide older Americans with nutritionally balanced meals that meet federal nutrition requirements to keep them healthy.
The Meals on Wheels program provides home-delivered meals to homebound seniors and others with limited mobility who are unable to cook for themselves or have no one to cook for them. The congregate dining sites provide low cost meals to seniors for a suggested contribution of $3 per meal and also give seniors the opportunity to socialize and participate in educational programs and activities.
“We are extremely happy with the performance, efficiency and quality of the food SUNY is providing,” said Becky Blum, RN, Senior Nutrition Director for the Office for the Aging. “They hit the ground running and never looked back. They made the transition to a new kitchen very effortless. We have had numerous positive comments on the meals from our seniors.”
For more information on Meals on Wheels criteria or to make a referral call NYCONNECTS at 753-4582, 363-4582 or 661-7582.
For more information about the Office for the Aging’s congregate dining sites, visit www.co.chautauqua.ny.us/321/Office-for-the-Aging or call NY Connects at the phone numbers listed above.
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