Meals on Wheels Rural Capital Area Rises To Increased Needs During Covid Pandemic

Like many organizations serving Fayette County, Meals on Wheels Rural Capital Area was affected by the COVID 19 pandemic in early 2020. “When we first starting hearing about Corona we were like most people and assumed it was going to be like any other cold or flu virus, no one could foresee what was coming”, says Noelia Buck, MOWRCA Program Director, “and we had to make some big changes, fast.”

Meals on Wheels Rural Capital Area (MOWRCA) serves individuals whose diminished mobility makes it challenging for them to shop for food or prepare meals. In most cases, the program serves adults aged 60 and older, though age requirements can vary.

With 4 sites in Fayette County, MOWRCA was serving 140-150 seniors each month. Seniors were receiving a hot meal 5 days a week, delivered by volunteers who were able to talk with residents and make sure they were doing well. Seniors who were more mobile and had transportation were able to meet at congregate sites to have their meal and socialize with other seniors. “The seniors who were able, used to meet at the center to visit, play games, and enjoy warm meals,” says Mary Ann Firasek, Schulenburg Senior Center Site Manager and Fayette County resident.

Now, all meals are delivered frozen or in packages of shelf stable items, and the congregate sites have been closed. Serving shelf stable and frozen meals to clients allows deliveries to be made fewer times per week, creating shorter exposure which, combined with masks and hand sanitizer, helps reduce the risk to all. Volunteers deliver meals but with strict social distancing and a lot less in-person interaction, while weekly calls to county seniors are helping to bridge the human connection to make sure residents are doing ok and don’t need help. “We look forward to starting our site activities again as quickly as we can but now is not the time, and there are so many other ways our more active seniors can help,” says Buck. Seniors who are able and would like to be engaged more are encouraged to reach out to their local sites for volunteer opportunities, including meal delivery and phone calls to homebound seniors.

Since last year the number of meals served in Fayette County has changed dramatically. There was a 55% increase in meals provided to the County leading to expanding the service area with an additional site in Fayetteville to help combat the increased demand in the county. More senior residents were at home as quarantine became the new way of life, and family members could not have contact with them. The year started with an average of 1900 meals each month. That number increased substantially, more than doubling in some months. When asked about the decreased numbers during the year, Combined Community Action Executive Director Kelly Franke reported that the dips were due to a shortage of available meals. “Every agency was dealing with major jumps in client numbers and there are only so many places that provide approved meals, sometimes those providers simply couldn’t keep up. Demand outweighed supply”. Meals on Wheels has strict guidelines about the meals provided to senior clients, including menus prepared by Registered Dietician’s planning a nutritious menu to address the health needs and conditions of seniors, following guidelines set out in the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program.

Despite changes, restrictions, meal shortages, and just generally having to rebuild the homebound meal delivery wheel, Meals on Wheels Rural Capital Area is rising to the call. As the home delivered program is often the first in-home service that an older adult receives and serves as a primary access point for other home and community-based services they are truly more than just a meal.

To learn more about getting meals call (979) 540-2980 to speak with someone today. You can also visit Combined Community Action for all local programs at www.ccaction.com