Burlington, VT- The rising cost of fuel and food have put a strain on the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging’s (CVAA) Meals on Wheels program. According to Zoe Hardy, CVAA’s Nutrition Director, the cost of "meat, milk, fruit, vegetables are all increasing, the cost of flour alone is up 50% over the last year." According to Hardy "caterers are squeezing every penny, looking at options and looking at local products" to help meet the rising need.
Over 290,000 meals have been served in the Champlain Valley in the last year either as a home delivered Meals on Wheels or served at a community meal site. Across the nation many Meals on Wheels programs are putting people in need on waiting lists or programs are shutting down but according to Hardy "we are going to be different in Vermont and ride this tide."
Meals on Wheels are delivered to people who are not able to safely prepare food for themselves. The cost for providing a years worth of Meals on Wheels is the same as one day in the hospital. Many Meals on Wheels recipients have chronic health conditions such as Diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure that are impacted by their diet. In addition Meals on Wheels are delivered by volunteers who provide a friendly visit to a senior who may not see anyone else that day and provides a safety check in case a senior has a medical crisis.
According to Hardy "if everyone pitches in we will get through this and seniors can stay in their homes." All Meals on Wheels in the Champlain Valley are delivered by volunteers who not only donate their time but also use their own cars and are not reimbursed for mileage. As the gas prices continue to rise the dedicated volunteers are what enable CVAA to continue to meet the critical need for seniors who rely on Meals on Wheels for their health and to enable them to remain out of a nursing home. According to Hardy "volunteers are our life blood, without them we would have to have waiting list, I’m sure half of our clients wouldn’t be served if we had to pay for delivery."
Meals on Wheels' caterers are feeling the pinch and are looking for ways to save money. According to Hardy, Meals on Wheels' caterers "do it out of the goodness of their heart, no one is making a profit, they do it because they believe in the mission." According to Mary West, Assistant Nutrition Director, community based programs like Meals on Wheels would not function" without the support of the community." CVAA is always looking for volunteers to deliver meals; more volunteers would enable CVAA to split routes so volunteers would be spending less gas money and less time delivering meals. According to West "we need more help."; People interested in volunteering to deliver Meals on Wheels should call 1-800-642-5119.
CVAA will hold it's 2nd annual Top Chef of the Champlain Valley, an Iron Chef experience on August 18 from 6-8:30pm at the Davis Center at UVM in Burlington to support it's Meals on Wheels and Case Management Programs. Three local chefs will compete in this gourmet cook-off. Sean Buchanan of VPT’s Feast in the Making and Executive Chef for the Stowe Mountain Lodge will emcee and judges include editors from Eating Well Magazine and Seven Days.The Top Chef benefit will feature a free wine & beer tasting and live music by Trinity. Tickets are $35 and are available by calling 1-800-642-5119 or click on www.cvaa.org. The Top Chef of the Champlain Valley will benefit the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging’s Meals on Wheels and Case Management Programs.
