Life changes as we age. Navigating a new lifestyle and budget as an older adult can be challenging. The Carroll County Council on Aging, a hunger-relief partner of the Foodbank, is a hub for community, friendship and nourishing meals for older adults experiencing food insecurity in Carroll County.
Monday through Friday, the center is filled with older adults laughing, chatting and enjoying prepared meals together. Shouts of “Bingo!” can be heard as plates of food are finished. Meals can also be picked up for individuals who prefer eating at home.
In addition to daily warm meals, the center provides frozen meals that older adults can take home and enjoy over the weekend. The food program works hard to ensure that older adults never have to go without food. When the center is closed for the holidays, older adults are given an extra meal to take home.
“One of the things we’re proud of is that there's never a day our older adults have to go without a meal,” said Carroll County Council on Aging Director Tonya Myers.
Because the center is open five days per week, it is important to them to provide a wide variety of nutritious meals.
Swiss steak, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, grilled cheese, wedding soup, fish and spaghetti are some of the older adults' favorite meals. They survey their older adults to see what meals they like and what new foods they want to try.
“Our cooks are really good at making sure nothing's repeated throughout the month. Our menus have a wide variety of different foods,” said Tonya.
In partnership with Meals on Wheels and the Foodbank’s older adult food box program, the center also delivers food directly to the homes of older adults with transportation barriers or health issues that make it difficult for them to visit food programs.
It is important for the center to form relationships with the older adults who receive food deliveries.
“Sometimes, the older adults we see on the route or at their home — we’re the only face they see. So, it's really important to me that they see our smile.”
Through their prepared meal program and food deliveries, the Carroll County Council on Aging serves 350-500 older adults each day. Their partnership with the Foodbank helps ensure they can feed their community.
“We love the connection with the Foodbank. We’ve been blessed,” said Tonya.
If you’re interested in learning more about starting a food program or partnering with the Foodbank, please visit akroncantonfoodbank.org/hunger-relief-network.