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Construction begins on new Meals on Wheels site

News

January 3, 2018

Senior Resources is excited to begin construction this week of a new Meals on Wheels site at its central office building on Millwood Avenue. When complete, the 900-square foot facility will provide a more efficient and convenient space for volunteers to pack and pick up meals for daily delivery.

“For many years, local churches have offered us their space to operate our Meals on Wheels program, and their cooperation has been critical to our success,” said Senior Resources’ Executive Director Pam Dukes. “But as we’ve grown and expanded our reach, we’ve realized the need for our own, dedicated space.”

The project, managed by Tyler Construction, is expected to take two months to complete.

The new Meals on Wheels site will also include an external walk-in freezer provided by the Walmart Foundation to allow Senior Resources to expand its frozen meal program, which provides frozen meals to clients who live in remote areas of Richland County that can’t effectively be served by a daily hot-meal delivery. The facility will also include space for Senior Resources’ Senior Care Pantry and Pet Pals program. The Senior Care Pantry provides non-perishable food, toiletries and household items to seniors on the Meals on Wheels waiting list. The Pet Pals program provides a monthly supply of pet food to Meals on Wheels clients who have pets in the home.

Senior Resources currently distributes about 400 hot meals each day from two local churches – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Forest Drive and Westminster Presbyterian Church on Broad River Road. The new facility at the Millwood Avenue office will replace the Good Shepherd site. The Westminster site will continue to operate as usual.

In addition, Senior Resources plans to open a third Meals on Wheels distribution center this month at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church to serve seniors in the northeast portion of Richland County. Currently, many of the clients in that area receive frozen meals. With a distribution site in closer proximity, they will now have the option to receive daily hot meals.

“Our Meals on Wheels client base increased 51 percent from FY16 to FY17, but we still have a waiting list of clients who need our services across Richland County,” Dukes said. “The strategic improvements we’re making now will ensure that we will be prepared to meet the needs of our elderly neighbors in the coming decades.”