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Page 4 Senior Times - January 2025During the holidays, family members often become aware of how much aging parents or other relatives are struggling to meet daily needs. It is also a time when people reflect on their lives and make resolutions to become more involved in the community. Volunteering for delivering meals could be a rewarding way to help seniors in the community combat hunger and isolation.Each weekday from 10am-1pm, volunteers and paid staff crisscross the county delivering over 450 hot meals to homebound, vulnerable elderly adults. In Calhoun County, Milestone Senior Services manages a state-of-the art commercial kitchen that prepares healthy, nutritious food from scratch and bakes fresh bread daily at the Kool Family Community Center in Battle Creek. Over 675 meals each weekday are delivered to 11 senior group meal sites and to seniors, who receive HomeDelivered Meals, otherwise known as Meals on Wheels.Volunteers to deliver meals are always needed. To volunteer, call 866-200-8877.Meals are usually delivered by a team of two people, a driver and a hopper. The hopper gets out of the car and delivers the meal while the driver prepares for the next stop. There are several organizations that have teams that deliver meals on a regular basis. Volunteers can participate as little as once a month or as often as once or twice a week. It takes about two hours to deliver meals to between 10-15 people. Volunteers must be 18 or over or be accompanied by a parent or other adult. Volunteers are required to pass a background check. In rural areas, because of the distance, paid drivers are often used. Many volunteers are seniors. Seniors helping seniors gives purpose to the volunteer and helps older adults stay safe and as independent as possible living at home. Delivering meals is a rewarding and easy way to give back to the community. This meal program is paid for with a partnership of Federal, State, and local Senior Millage resources. There is no wait list for home-delivered meals in Calhoun County because of Senior Millage tax dollars partnering with Federal Older Americans Act and State Older Michiganian funding through CareWell Services Southwest, the area agency on aging for Calhoun and Barry counties. Home-delivered meals are available to any Calhoun County resident who is 60 and over, or disabled people of any age, who are homebound or recovering from a medical procedure regardless of income.Call Milestone Senior Services at 866-200-8877 to sign up for services. An assessor will schedule a visit to your home within a couple of days to help you complete the application for the program. The Meals program does not have an income requirement; a senior just has to have a need for meals because of health issues, disability, or being frail. If you or your loved one are homebound and struggle to make food independently, please do not hesitate to call to sign up for the program; it is a community resource designed to help. If you are already receiving home delivered meals, when you are gone for holiday celebrations and travel, please be sure to let the program know when you will be gone and will not need meals.Home-Delivered meals can help a frail senior maintain their independence and continue to live in their own home. Compassionate volunteers deliver not just a nutritious meal but a friendly face on a regular basis. These daily checks not only provide peace of mind to individual%u2019s loved ones, but also encourages social interaction and offers a link to the community. Meals on Wheels can provide up to two meals per day, seven days a week. With each delivery, individuals receive a hot lunch and, if needed, a cold or frozen meal for dinner. Frozen meals can also be delivered for weekend meals. Food is part of everyone%u2019s holiday celebrations. Food is necessary for health and part of celebrating family traditions. Home-Delivered Meals is a valuable community resource that helps ensure nutrition and well-being for some of our most vulnerable older adults all year long. I am grateful for the safety network that the meal program provides for those who struggle to prepare or afford proper nutrition. Thank you to Calhoun County residents for your continued support of Senior Millage. Happy New Year!Calhoun County Senior Services administers Senior Millage tax dollars.A RESOLUTION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCEBy: Rebecca de Finta, Specialist, Calhoun County Senior ServicesEnjoy the best in retirement living on a beautiful 50+ acre country setting campus in the heart of Battle Creek and just minutes from downtown. Have peace of mind living in a maintenance-free, safe, and secure community. 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