In April and May of
this year Meals on Wheels of Syracuse moved its kitchen and offices into 5,300 sq. feet of
newly renovated space on the ground floor "C Wing" in Almus-Olver Towers, 300
Burt Street ( a Syracuse Housing Authority Senior Apartment Building). This move was
necessary to manage the increased demand for home delivered meals over the decade. This
year, for a second straight year, we project serving a record number of meals to people in
need.
The renovations reflect partnerships that have existed going back to the first days of Meals on Wheels in 1959. Syracuse Housing Authority (SHA) renovated the new site through their building development funds. It was SHA that provided the initial kitchen site to our program at 418 Fabius Street in 1959. In 1964, when Meals on Wheels needed additional space for expansion, SHA provided kitchen and office space at Almus-Olver Towers.
In
preparation for our move and for future expansion of service in our new facility, the
Rosamond Gifford Charitable Foundation provided a $25,000 grant to purchase a 24 ft. x
24ft. Walk-In refrigerator/freezer. From 1958 to 1960, the Rosamond Gifford Foundation
supported the start-up of Meals on Wheels with a three-year demonstration grant.
Through the years, the CNY Community Foundation and the Onondaga County Office for the Aging and Youth (OFA) have supported Meals on Wheels through grants for food service equipment. Both did so again prior to this move . CNY Community Foundation provided a grant for a Blast Chiller to quickly cool for food safety and time saving purposes. Funds administered through OFA helped fund a slicer, food processors, an air curtain refrigerator and pot racks.
Finally, M
& T Bank donated furniture for offices and our volunteer lounge. The volunteers and
staff are a little more comfortable and very grateful for the help.
The renovations culminate six years of planning, budget cuts and re-planning. Meals on Wheels of Syracuse steps into the coming century with a new facility and a determination to meet the needs of our homebound neighbors.