| Meals on Wheels of Syracuse, New York, Inc. "Because everyone deserves a nourishing meal." Board of Directors Roslyn Bilford, President Editor, Kimberley Loson The purpose of Meals on Wheels is to organize, plan and administer the service of delivering well_balanced and nutritive meals and to do so at the lowest possible cost to the participant. These meals will be provided for those participants who are unable to plan, shop for or prepare such meals due to illness, disability or advanced age. Phone: (315) 478_5948 Fax: (315) 478_6770 e_mail mowsyracuse@juno.com Website WWW.meals.org 300 Burt Street
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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORA short history Recently I had the pleasure of attending our Meals on Wheels of Syracuse 40th Anniversary Volunteer Luncheon. where I shared some historical information to the 300 volunteers and guests at the Luncheon. While researching the 40 years of Meals on Wheels history, it became apparent to me that in each of the four decades significant milestones occurred that kindled or helped to manage growth in meal service. Meal on Wheels of Syracuse(MOWS) began in an apartment with a kitchen that Syracuse Housing Authority provided at 418 Fabius Street. With just 25 people being served, the apartment arrangement was adequate, but only for a short time. In 1964, our program moved to a kitchen facility in Almus_Olver Towers (also a SHA apartment building). This was our first significant action to manage the growing need for home delivered meals. By 1965, the number of people grew to 65 people. In the 1970's service grew gradually until what became what I believe to be the most significant milestone in MOWS history. In 1974, the Board of Director's chose to participate and receive funding from the federal government for what was known as the Title III Program. The program allowed low income seniors home delivered meals under a contribution rate that the senior felt they could afford. Prior to this time, recipients had to pay a required rate to receive meals. Although MOW has always kept the cost to clients as low as possible in order to provide service to as many people as possible, Title III made it available to many more people in need. In a few years the number of recipients that received meals each day doubled to more than 275 people. This program also built a closer relationship with the County's Metropolitan Commission on Aging (now known as the Office of Aging and Youth) who administered the Title III Program. Until the 1980's, MOW service was not available to homebound residents in Southern Onondaga County. A new program from the NYS, SNAP offered funding to seniors 75 and older and residents in rural areas. Once again MOW teamed up with MCOA. St. Joseph's Church in Lafayette donated space for a volunteer distribution site. A short time later, we were delivering to people on two routes as far south as Tully. By the late 1980's, 350 people per day were receiving meals. In the 1990's, MOW developed service relationships with Visiting Nurse Association, Loretto and HOSPICE of CNY. We took over home delivered meal service from St. Camillus and Loretto who had their own small meal programs. By the late 90's we had reached 400 recipients per day. After experiencing an average of 3% growth per year since 1988, we were outgrowing our facility space. This year, in preparation for continued growth in the new millennium, we moved to a newly renovated and larger kitchen and office space at Almus_Olver Towers. I am confident that we are prepared to provide service to our neighbors in need in the coming decade with a functionally planned kitchen facility, doubled cooler and freezer storage and more modern kitchen equipment. I believe that this move to our new facility will prove to be another of those significant milestones in the long and proud history of Meals on Wheels of Syracuse. Thanks to SHA and everyone else who helped us to make this move successful. |
| To Whom It May Concern: I have been receiving Meals on Wheels for almost two years now. They provide me with nutritious meals daily which is a great help to me as I am wheelchair bound and have diabetes. I am sure that without being able to receive daily meals I would not be able to have balanced meals on a regular basis. That would greatly affect my diabetes. Please do not give any budget cuts to such an important service to many elderly and disabled people who count on a hot, healthy meal each day. |
Dear Meals on Wheels, I want to say thanks for my meals. On days I feel weak, not wanting to cook for fear of a fire or spills that go unseen or risk getting hurt just to fix a meal, I thank God there is someone who cares enough to feed others. Please don't stop letting this program give more than nourishment. It also brings smiles and company. |
Thank-you for all your kind lettes. Please keep them coming.