The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Dear Editor:
The Henderson County Health Department is pleased to be the grantee for the senior home delivered and congregate meals programs in Henderson County.
We do everything we can to see that the senior's of the county receive a nutritious hot meal five days a week when needed.
In fact in our last grant year which ended in September, we provided 19, 093 meals to homebound seniors and those who attended the 4 congregate meal sites in the county.
These meals are provided to the seniors at no cost, but a minimal suggested donation is in place.
These meals are funded through a grant from the Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging (WIAAA).
The WIAAA grant is a lump sum that is awarded once a year and is very specific in how it can be spent.
The funding must be used for direct meal cost.
Unfortunately, it cannot be used to support the expenses that are incurred by the meal sites that graciously allow us to use the building for a few hours a day to serve the meals.
We provide one staff person to manage the site during these hours, but the volunteers that help with the dishing up of the meals, serve and clean up after the meal are invaluable to the program.
We are pleased to say that we watch diligently for any grants that we can write on behalf of the senior sites. In just the past few years these grants have provided stoves, refrigerators, steam tables, furniture, hot water heaters, air conditioners, televisions, VCR's and much more.
We sincerely hope that this effort has helped in some way.
We are grateful to the kind folks at the senior centers in Lomax, Oquawka and Stronghurst for supporting this invaluable program and we feel that we are truly a good mix of helping each other.
They give us the space needed and we feel we help them by providing needed equipment and also encourage seniors to participate at their sites.
Sincerely,
Gloria Short
Senior Services Director
Henderson Co. Health Dept.