Special delivery: Meals on Wheels’ homebound seniors receive essential care packages | Coronavirus

Homebound seniors who enjoy the hot meals and friendly conversations courtesy of Meals on Wheels received a special delivery this week, according to the Macomb County’s Office of Senior Services.

“At the onset of the pandemic, we were making outreach phone calls to seniors to check in,” said Sheila Coté, director of the Office of Senior Services. Many seniors indicated they were in need of essential care items such as soap, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, paper towel, tissue, etc.

“Our goal was to respond to the need,” she added.

Meals on Wheels special delivery — Workers prepare to unload a van full of care packages for homebound seniors in the Meals on Wheels program. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Cote and her staff were not alone in their mission to support elders in the community.

Several departments within Macomb County assisted in package development and distribution, including Planning and Economic Development, Veterans Services, the Office of the County Executive and Human Resources and Labor Relations dropped off more than 500 care packages to local senior citizens.

“The county jumped in to help and meet the need,” Coté said. “This was truly a team effort that included many dedicated employees.”

Federal CARES Act funding is being used to cover the cost of the products in the care packages. The Office of Senior Services plans to distribute supplies to 1,500 additional homebound Meals on Wheels participants over the next several months.

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