(Chelsea Update would like to thank Trinh Pifer for the information in this story.)
Each year, the Meals on Wheels programs throughout Washtenaw County deliver warm festive holiday meals to those seniors who are unable to leave their homes.
“Many seniors rely on these meals for both the food and the opportunity to see a friendly face. For some, this is the only human interaction they have all day. This is especially important on holidays when family might be too far away to visit,” says Andrea Plevek, human services manager with the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development.
On Christmas and New Years Day, the Chelsea Community Hospital will be preparing hot meals for homebound seniors in Chelsea, Dexter, and Manchester.
Volunteer drivers, coordinated by the Chelsea Senior Center and the Dexter Senior Center, will pick up meals from the hospital and deliver them to Meals on Wheels participants.
“The Chelsea Community Hospital prides itself on service and caring for our local community. This is another way for us to share our resources to support seniors in our communities,” says Phil Boham, vice president of operations at Chelsea Community Hospital.
An estimated 50 homebound seniors from these areas will receive a hot meal delivered on both Christmas and New Years Day.
Trinh Pifer, executive director of the Chelsea Senior Center, is thankful for the hospital’s support.
“Having the meals prepared in Chelsea, saves time and gas for our volunteer drivers, who in past years, picked up these holiday meals from Ann Arbor. This is just another great example of our small town collaborative spirit,” she says.
The senior nutrition programs in Chelsea and Dexter continue to grow. On a monthly basis, each site serves almost 2000 meals for both congregate and Meals on Wheels.
Funding for the Meals on Wheels Program comes from the Area Agency on Aging 1-B. The program is administered by Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development.
To volunteer for Meals on Wheels programs in your community at any time during the year, please call: Chelsea Senior Center at 475-9242 or the Dexter Senior Center at 426-7737.
