RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Meals on Wheels is a non-profit organization that serves nutritious meals five days a week in communities throughout western South Dakota. This week at KOTA Cares, we spotlight a place that not only provides nourishment but also serves as a wellness check for elderly people in the community.
The Meals on Wheels program has been an important part of many Rapid City residents’ lives, serving as a foundation of support for the community.
With a mission to deliver healthy meals to homebound individuals who are 60 years of age or older, this program makes sure that people receive meals that not only taste good but are good for them.
“They’re all nutritionally balanced; they get a fruit, a milk, a grain, and, of course, protein. We use hardly any salt; very few recipes call for just a little bit of salt. We want to keep their sodium low. The meals they’re getting are nutritious and delicious; I mean, I eat our food every day; it’s good food,” said Lori Bertrand, the kitchen manager at Meals on Wheels.
Although Meals on Wheels is known for supporting seniors through delivering nutritious meals, they also support them through companionship. For many, the brief interactions with volunteers may be the first social interaction they have had in a long time.
“Sometimes these people, the only time they get to see somebody throughout their day or their week, are our drivers, the volunteer people that show up and hand them a meal. They can start to develop connections and gift giving and things like that last, and so it’s really important that these people get that wellness check,” said Sam Dewell, Regional Manager at Meals on Wheels.
While Meals on Wheels receives funding from the federal and state governments to cover about half of the cost of meals, they are dependent on donations to meet the other 50%. This dependence highlights the importance of community support in ensuring no homebound individual in Rapid City goes hungry or feels alone.
To donate to Meals on Wheels, click here.
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