Page 14 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - June 2020 - 27-06

Page 14 Senior Times - June 2020
Aging and Disability Resource Line: 1-800-626-6719 General Agency Telephone: (269) 966-2450
200 West Michigan Avenue Suite 102 Battle Creek, MI 49017
www.region3b.org
Kinship Korner
New Program Joins Those Providing Food to At-Risk Seniors
By: Liz Lawson Young, Marketing Specialist, CareWell Services SW
Family Enrichment Center Regional Resource 3 Team 415 S. 28th Street Battle Creek, MI 49015
Sharon Dewey,
Foster Care Navigator Email: SDewey@fecfamily.com
Ph: (269) 660-0448
Fx: (269) 963-0160 www.Fecfamily.com
Greetings from the Family Enrichment Center to all our families. We hope as life begins to move towards a new normal that all are well and safe. Our offices will open in June and the day care will open the mid- dle of June. We are continuing to offer services for our fam- ilies who are running low on resources. We realize that the effects of the shut down will continue to effect the lives of our families for some time to come. We have some resources available for families who are running low on supplies, so please call or text at the number below if there is something we can do to help, even if it is just to talk.
Please visit our Facebook page to learn about the latest resources and trainings avail- able, remember to “Like” us.
God Bless and Thank You for caring for our children.
~ Sharon Dewey (269) 274-4077
Family Enrichment Center
CareWell Services Southwest
is working in partnership with USDA Farmers, the Food Bank Council, and food hubs in Barry and Calhoun counties to distribute 600 boxes of fresh food to local seniors experiencing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Farmers to Families Food Boxes will be distributed to local seniors by the Albion Food Hub, Barry County United Way’s Fresh Food Initiative, Battle Creek’s RISE program,
the Calhoun County Faith Based Coalition, and a local collaborative of agencies from Marshall led by the Department of Public Safety.
Battle Creek Tabernacle, Southern Michigan Food Bank on Wayne Road, the Share Center, and the Salvation Army.
The boxes will be provided by Van Eerden Foodservice and will be filled with locally-grown products. They will be divided among food distribution partners in Albion, Marshall, Battle Creek, and Hastings for delivery to seniors, who are considered at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
Many of these organizations have already worked together to distribute over 150 “Quarantine Boxes” to area seniors in need, and an additional 350 boxes will be compiled and delivered in the near future. The first wave of boxes, containing recipes and ingredients for two people to
“Our community has done amazing work to see that seniors do not need to worry about food,” said Fales. “I’ve been so impressed by the kindness and care shown to our seniors by so many groups in both Calhoun and Barry counties. This
is what community means, and it is the true outworking of our vision statement: ‘a community where people are cared for with respect and dignity.’”
“We are pleased to work with several of these groups to ensure that homebound seniors, aged 60 and over, have access to the food they need during this time as they continue to shelter in place and limit their exposure to the virus,” said CareWell Services CEO Karla Fales.
eat for 10 days, was perfectly timed, arriving at a senior living complex in Hastings the evening it was placed under full quarantine.
For information on food assistance, seniors and adults with disabilities in need of food or for other unmet needs, contact CareWell Services' Senior Resource Call Center weekdays from 8:30am to 4:30pm by calling (269) 441-0930 or email info@carewellservices.org.
This effort is the result of a partnership with the state and
the USDA Farmers to Families
Food Box Program announced by Governor Whitmer on Monday, May 18. The initiative will join other programs in the area combating food insecurity among seniors and other vulnerable populations.
In addition to food supplies, boxes containing hygiene and personal
care items are available to seniors sheltering in place. This effort
is being organized by CareWell Services with the help of volunteers from six other organizations, and funded by a grant from the United Way of Battle Creek and Kalamazoo.
Food and other supplies are also available through the RISE COVID- 19 Project Support, Community Action commodities food program,
PROMOTING HEALTH
INDEPENDENCE CHOICE