Valley Meals And More

TO ENHANCE THE WELLNESS OF OLDER ADULTS BY DELIVERING DAILY MEALS, PROVIDING CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY, AND RECOMMENDING AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR SUPPORT SERVICES.

VALLEY MEALS AND MORE FORMED TO ADDRESS A GAP IN A BASIC-NEED SERVICES AS OLDER ADULTS IN OUR DELIVERY REGION HAD LIMITED ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND/OR LACKED THE PHYSICAL CAPACITY TO PREPARE MEALS ON A REGULAR BASIS. VALLEY MEALS' VOLUNTEERS INTERACTED WITH ELDERS IN THE COMMUNITY 5 DAYS EACH WEEK, FOR 52 WEEKS EVEN ON HOLIDAYS, RESULTING IN 260 DELIVERY/VISIT DAYS IN 2021. VALLEY MEALS SERVED 19,898 MEALS AT AN AVERAGE COST OF $11.70 PER MEAL. DAILY BASIC NEEDS BEGIN WITH AT LEAST ONE BALANCED MEAL AND A REGULAR, FRIENDLY IN-PERSON VISIT. VALLEY MEALS' PARTICIPANTS LIVE MILES FROM NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY. OUR DELIVERY VISIT MIGHT BE THE ONLY CONTACT AND OLDER ADULT HAS WITH A HUMAN FOR DAYS, AND SOMETIMES WEEKS. IN ITS SHORT LIFE, VALLEY MEALS HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR PHYSICIANS, CAREGIVERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND THE OLDER ADULT RESIDENTS, THEMSELVES. THERE ARE NO OTHER ENTITIES PROVIDING HOME-DELIVERED-MEALS IN THIS REGION. VALLEY MEALS RAISES FUNDS TO PURCHASE MEALS, PURCHASE DELIVERY BAGS AND MATERIALS, AND COMPENSATE COORDINATORS FOR ORDERING MEALS, RECRUITING VOLUNTEER DRIVERS, CREATING DAILY DRIVING/DELIVERY ROUTES, MAKING WEEKLY VOLUNTEER SCHEDULES INCLUDING DAILY SUBSTITUTIONS, SECURING MEALS FROM PROVIDERS ON DELIVERY DAYS, OBTAINING RECEIPTS AND CONFIRMING PURCHASE ORDERS INCLUDING SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS, DISTRIBUTING MEALS TO VOLUNTEER DELIVERY DRIVERS AND CONFIRM DELIVERY FOR 75-80 MEALS PER DAY (2021 LEVELS). IN ADDITION TO DAILY MEAL DELIVERY, VALLEY MEALS PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, PICKS UP PRESCRIPTIONS AND GROCERY ITEMS, AND PROVIDES RIDES TO THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE, FOOD BANK AND THRIFT SHOP. VALLEY MEALS ALSO MAKES PERIODIC CARE CALLS AND IN-PERSON VISITS TO ISOLATED OLDER ADULT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.