Some elderly in the community are going hungry. They have difficulty preparing meals and don’t have any type of holiday food.
Fayette County has a large number of seniors that live alone and have health conditions that make the simple tasks of preparing a nutritious meal a real challenge.
Additionally, some have a very limited income, making it difficult to maintain a healthy diet while making sure they have the crucial medications they need as well.
For more than 30 years, Fayette Senior Services’ Meals On Wheels program has provided food to seniors in Fayette County who are hungry or without the ability to have proper nutrition.
Each year, a team of volunteers deliver over 40,000 meals to more than 250 homebound and semi-homebound older adults who reside throughout Fayette County.
The general funding Fayette Senior Services raises for its Meals On Wheels program only covers the cost of weekday non-holiday meals, which averages 260 meals a year per recipient.
This funding, unfortunately, does not provide for additional holiday meals, which is why Fayette Senior Services participates in an annual Project Love Holiday Meal Campaign that serves to bridge that gap.
“There are so many seniors who live in Fayette County who have food insecurities. Project Love is such a great community partnership that helps alleviate senior hunger within our county,” says Fayette Senior Services’ President and CEO, Nancy Meaders.
With support from residents and the business community, hundreds of seniors will experience the love of the community as well as the comfort and joy of having a nutritious meal on holidays throughout the year.
Fayette Senior Services’ Meals on Wheels Coordinator Natalie Hynson says she is overwhelmed by the constant support of this invaluable service in our community.
“The holidays are about family and spending time with those we care about. So many home-bound seniors in Fayette County are without family,” she says. “Project Love is about a community reaching out to these seniors to say, ‘you matter to us, we will be your family.’ That really is what this campaign is all about.”
Meals On Wheels provides much more than a nutritious meal to seniors.
For many, Meals On Wheels is a lifeline to help them continue to live independently in their own home with dignity and respect.
For seniors who live alone without family nearby, each meal delivery is often the only social contact they may regularly receive.
This important connection to the community provides a “wellness check” to ensure the overall well-being of our community’s seniors.
Fayette Senior Services is calling on individuals and businesses to donate to Project Love to help purchase extra holiday meals for Fayette’s Meals On Wheels recipients.
Donations also provide doctor-prescribed Ensure dietary supplements, as well as additional “shelf meals”– non-refrigerated meals that can be kept on the shelf in the event of an emergency or for times that meals are unable to be delivered due to severe inclement weather.
Each meal meets the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), and meals for special dietary restrictions are available for recipients.
Ten dollars provides two meals for a senior. There is no limit to the number of meals that can be purchased, and general donations are welcomed.
Donation forms and additional information can be found at www.fayss.org and at Fayette Senior Services Life Enrichment Center, 4 Center Dr. in Fayetteville or 203 McIntosh Trail in Peachtree City.
Checks should be made payable to Fayette Senior Services, and credit cards are accepted.
For more information about Meals On Wheels volunteer information, contact Meals On Wheels Coordinator Natalie Hynson at 770-461-0813 or visit www.fayss.org.
For more than 30 years, Fayette Senior Services, Inc. (FSS), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has been working to make a difference in the emotional, social, and physical well-being of older adults.
In addition to Meals On Wheels, FSS provides other essential services, such as Transportation, Information & Assistance, Care Management, In-Home Personal Care/Homemaker Services, Adult Day Care, Home Repair, and Ani-Meals.
For active older adults age 50 years and older, Fayette Senior Services Life Enrichment Center offers a wide variety of social, leisure, and fitness activities, the award-winning Ultimate Cafe, and more.
For more information visit www.fayss.org or call 770-461-0813. Fayette Senior Services is a proud member of the Meals On Wheels Association of America.
To learn more you can help the seniors in Fayette County, please visit www.fayss.org.
