The Athens Community Council on Aging (ACCA) has announced that it has received a grant from Meals on Wheels America, the national leadership organization supporting community-based programs across the U.S. dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation, to help bridge gaps in the availability of essential nutrition services in Athens, Georgia.
ACCA was awarded the Meals on Wheels America Meeting Unmet Need Grant to deliver and expand nutrition options in our community, with the goal of serving the nutritional needs of underserved or unserved seniors and expanding access to medically tailored meals. In total, $1.2 million in grants were awarded to 56 local Meals on Wheels programs as part of the Meals on Wheels America Meeting Unmet Need grant program.
With the help of the grant, the Athens Community Council on Aging will partner with The Cancer Foundation to provide medically tailored meals to 18 individuals undergoing cancer treatment for up to 6 months.
“For more than 50 years, ACCA has had a history of delivering essential nutrition, care and support to our community’s seniors through Meals on Wheels. This grant allows an opportunity for a new partnership that will expand ACCA’s successful delivery model to those experiencing significant changes to their physical and mental health due to a cancer diagnosis. The last thing anyone needs to worry about is where their next meal will come from. We are so grateful to be partnering with The Cancer Foundation (TCF) to provide a healthy meal delivered with care” says Eve Anthony, CEO of the Athens Community Council on Aging.
With 1 in 10 Clarke County families being affected by cancer, the need for resources and support is ever present in the community.
“Cancer can take a toll on patients and their families’ physical, emotional, and financial well-being, and access to healthy food is often challenging. Many of our patients struggle to afford nutritious food, pay for transportation to treatment centers, or cope with the stress and anxiety of their diagnosis and prognosis. These challenges can worsen their health outcomes and quality of life,” explains Joey Tripp, Executive Director of The Cancer Foundation.
“Given the growth in the older adult population, coupled with the impacts of the pandemic, inflation and other factors, it is vital that we invest in Meals on Wheels programs’ ability to expand services and reach all those in need,” said Ellie Hollander, Meals on Wheels America President and CEO. “We believe that no one knows better what these communities need than the boots on the ground staff and volunteers delivering Meals on Wheels service to their older adult neighbors every day, and we’re proud to support their efforts with these grants.”
For More information, please reach out to Jennifer Shaikun at jshaikun@accaging.org.