Thanks to a generous $16,000 donation from Meals on Wheels America, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency proudly serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County, was able to provide 2,000 meals to recipients.
Meals on Wheels America, the leadership organization supporting more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger, provided critical funding for OCES’ Grab & Go meals that were distributed to older adults and individuals with disabilities during June, July and August.
OCES strives to address food insecurity for older adults in greater Plymouth County. A component of OCES’ Nutrition Department is their Community Dining program which offers meals at various sites within the communities the agency serves. During the COVID-19 pandemic, OCES Community Dining sites offered Grab & Go meals that provided healthy and delicious nutrition, along with the opportunity to check-in.
“We are thankful to Meals on Wheels of America for the funding to offer ‘Grab & Go’ meals as an alternative option for individuals like Margaret,” stated Brenda Carrens, OCES’ Community Programs Director.
OCES Nutrition Department
OCES’ Nutrition Department provides vital food services including more than 500,000 meals each year to consumers living in greater Plymouth County. Many older adults benefit from “Meals on Wheels” which provides a daily meal delivered to their homes. For many of OCES’ most vulnerable older adults and individuals with disabilities, the delivery is not only a delicious meal, it is often the only social contact of the day. A connection to the community through Meals on Wheels is also a safety check to make sure these individuals are okay. Several of OCES’ Meals on Wheels drivers have been cited by local officials for actions that have helped a consumer who has been found in a dire situation.
OCES’ Nutrition Program, which consists of Meals on Wheels, Community Dining, and Grab & Go meals, is critical to many older adults. The Program is made possible through generous funding from The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Elder Affairs, organizations such as Meals on Wheels America, as well as other organizations and individuals in the community. For more information, contact Brenda Carrens, Community Programs Director at bcarrens@ocesma.org or call 508-584-1561 ext. 252.
To learn more about Meals on Wheels America, visit their website: https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
About OCES
Founded in 1974, OCES proudly serves greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton with a second office in Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 25 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency offers a number of programs to serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.
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