Unleash the Power of The Press

Banfield Charitable Trust

OCES Helps Provide Food for 111 Pets

OCES logoOld Colony Elder Services (OCES), the regional agency that serves older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout the greater Brockton and Plymouth county area, has recently received a grant from Banfield Charitable Trust to continue their work helping people feed their pets.

The Pet Food Distribution Grant from Banfield Charitable Trust  will enable OCES’ Pets Eat Too program to purchase pet food and distribute it to low-income older adults and people with disabilities, so that they can continue to care for their pets in their home.

Those living on fixed incomes often have difficulty providing for their pets’ needs in addition to their own. Those receiving nutritional support for their pets are OCES Meals on Wheels consumers and/or consumers referred by their care manager.

Last year OCES helped 76 individuals by providing pet food for their 111 pets, thanks to Banfield Charitable Trust, and a pet food drive conducted by the Plymouth County Chapter of Altrusa International.

“Pets provide a significant source of comfort, companionship and purpose for many older adults and people living with disabilities,” explained Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES. “Helping our consumers feed their pets is an important service that OCES is pleased to offer made possible by Banfield Charitable Trust and the Plymouth County Chapter of Altrusa International.”

To learn more, contact OCES’ Nutrition Department at (508) 584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.

About Banfield Charitable Trust

Banfield Charitable Trust provides grants to nonprofit organizations and nonprofit hospices to support their efforts to keep pets and people together. Pet food distribution program grants provide financial support to nonprofit organizations and members of the Meals On Wheels Associations of America (MOWAA) members to fund expenses associated with starting or maintaining a pet food distribution program.  For more information, visit www.banfieldcharitabletrust.org.

About Altrusa International Inc. of Plymouth County

Altrusa International is a global volunteer service organization whose purpose is to promote better communities through service by an international network of people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Club members are involved in a variety of service projects and fundraisers in their communities. To learn more about the Plymouth County chapter, visit http://tinyurl.com/AltrusaPlymouthCounty.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 communities in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and people with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency has 217 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508 584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.

 

OCES Helps Provide Food for 111 PetsRead More

Keeping Pets & their People Together – Old Colony Elder Services Receives Pet Food Distribution Grant

Old Colony Elder Services’ (OCES), a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has recently received a Pet Food Distribution Grant from Banfield Charitable Trust.

Low-income seniors are among America’s millions struggling with hunger and food insecurity. Many seniors and individuals with disabilities receive nutritious daily meals through OCES’ Meals On Wheels program. In an effort to keep seniors and their beloved pets well nourished, OCES now also provides nutrition support for their pets.

For nearly a decade, Banfield Charitable Trust has been working to keep pets and their people together. The Banfield Grant enables OCES to purchase pet food and distribute to low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities, so that they can continue to care for their pets in their home. Essentially, OCES’ Meals On Wheels recipients are assured nutritious daily meals AND now their pets can receive nutritional support.

“What we have found is that elders will often feed their pets before they feed themselves. We’re working to identify and meet the needs of low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities who have pets,” explained Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

To learn more about the program, contact OCES’ Nutrition Department at (508) 584-1561.

About Banfield Charitable Trust

Banfield Charitable Trust provides grants to nonprofit organizations and nonprofit hospices to support their efforts to keep pets and people together. Pet food distribution program grants provide financial support to nonprofit organizations and Meals On Wheels Associations of America (MOWAA) members to fund expenses associated with starting or maintaining a pet food distribution program. For more information, visit www.banfieldcharitabletrust.org.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 towns in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The organization’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living.

The agency has 169 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

Keeping Pets & their People Together – Old Colony Elder Services Receives Pet Food Distribution GrantRead More