The Valdez Senior Center recently rebranded their home-delivered meals program as Meals on Wheels Valdez. According to their web site,
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time.
OUR VISION
An America in which all seniors live nourished lives with independence and dignity.https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/learn-more/nation
The Valdez Senior Center (VSC) was founded in 1981. Today, they provide a multitude of services including: lunch at the center, home-delivered meals, independent living housing, transportation, in-home care, free use of medical equipment, classes, and a host of social activities. The VSC continues to expand its programs, benefiting the whole community of Valdez with the aim of creating a vibrant inter-generational culture. Most recently VSC has formed a partnership with Valdez High School. Over the summer, the VSC provided job training for three high school students. Valdez High School and the VSC agreed to continue the program into the 2019-2020 school year. The VSC also welcomed another group of high school students who recently volunteered to serve not only seniors, but guests of all ages, at their recent Thanksgiving Luncheon and will be welcoming students to participate in the upcoming Christmas Luncheon,
The VSC provides transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities Monday through Friday during business hours. Riders are provided two stops per day to assist with daily living and errands (grocery store, bank, post office, medical appointments, etc.). Each rider should call the center by 4pm the day before to check availability. VSC will soon offer rides for those requiring the use of a wheelchair through a partnership with Connections to Care, which also provides snow removal assistance through volunteers.
A Care Coordinator oversees healthcare services for Medicaid and private pay clients, ranging from household chores to personal care services and respite. Anyone interested in receiving services is encouraged to contact the center for more information.
Integral to the VSC is a commitment to providing nutritious meals. Served Monday-Friday from 12-1pm, lunch at the center is open to the whole community and provides a time of companionship and conversation. VSC also provides meals for seniors unable to visit the center. The home-delivered meals program began in 1999. In May 2019, the VSC became formal members of Meals on Wheels America as a means of meeting our goal to ensuring no senior is hungry or socially isolated in Valdez. Unique within our community, Meals on Wheels Valdez provides freshly prepared meals to home-bound seniors seven days a week. Each meal delivery also provides an informal wellness check and friendly visit, which can often be the only social interaction recipients have throughout their day. Thus far, in 2019 (January – November), Meals on Wheels Valdez has delivered 11,957 meals.
Each month, updated menu and activities are posted online and in the VSC newsletter and aired daily on KCHU Community Public Radio.
Link to Subaru Share the Love/Meals on Wheels fundraising event.
For more information call 907.835.5032
