Author: CourtneyM

As autumn approaches, it’s a great time to think about
preparing for the new season and ensuring your well-being.
With the cooler temperatures and shorter days, making a
few adjustments can help you stay comfortable and
healthy.

Autumn Preparations
– Home Safety: Check your heating system to ensure it’s
working properly before the cold weather sets in. Also,
consider using a humidifier to keep the air comfortable
and prevent dryness.
– Prevent Slips and Falls: With fallen leaves and potentially
increased precipitation, be cautious when walking
outside. Keeping walkways clear and using non-slip
mats can help reduce the risk of falls.
– Layer Up: The weather can be unpredictable in fall.
Dressing in layers allows you to adjust your clothing as
needed to stay warm and comfortable.

Proper Nutrition
– Stay Hydrated: Even as temperatures drop, it’s important
to drink plenty of water. Proper hydration supports overall
health and well-being.
– Balanced Diet: Include a variety of seasonal fruits and
vegetables in your diet. Foods like apples, squash, and
root vegetables are not only nutritious but also rich in
vitamins and minerals.
– Comfort Foods: Enjoy hearty soups and stews that are
both nourishing and comforting during the cooler
months.
– Vitamin D: With less sunlight, it’s important to get enough
vitamin D. Foods like fortified dairy products, fatty fish,
and even supplements can help maintain healthy levels.

By taking proactive steps to address both health and safety,
you can enjoy greater peace of mind and continue to
engage in activities during autumn. Wishing you a cozy and
healthy autumn!

As part of our commitment to your safety and well-being, we are
pleased to inform you that each home delivery client will be receiving
five shelf-stable emergency meals in preparation for possible power
outages during the wildfire season.
In recent years, wildfires have become an increasingly significant
concern in our region. These natural disasters can pose serious threats
to communities, including disruptions to food supplies and access to
essential resources. With support from our amazing partners at ALTC,
we have taken proactive steps to ensure that you are equipped with
the necessary supplies to sustain you during emergencies.
The shelf-stable meals we are providing have been carefully selected
for their nutritional value, long shelf life, and ease of preparation. These
meals are designed to be stored for extended periods without
refrigeration, making them ideal for emergency situations where
access to traditional food sources may be limited.
Our goal is to support you in being well-prepared for any potential
wildfire-related disruptions. By having these emergency meals on
hand, you can have peace of mind knowing that you have a reliable
source of sustenance should the need arise.
Thank you for allowing us to serve you and for prioritizing safety and
preparedness. We look forward to continuing to support you.

Excitement is in the air at Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels as we move towards the summer months and the prospects of coming together and sharing experiences. There are several opportunities to share time with friends, family, peers, friends to be (strangers), community members, and others during the next several months. Below is a list of activities/opportunities to spend time with others and the Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels family.

• Community Garden Volunteer
  Every Wednesday, starting in early June, the Vine church is hoping for volunteers to assist in weeding and harvesting their community garden. Veggies, fruit, and herbs will be donated to MCMOW to be used in meals for senior clients.
• Dust Devils – Senior’s Day, June 19th
  MCMOW has partnered with Providence to host Senior’s Day with the Dust Devils. The first 250 guests at the gate receive a free Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels re-useable tote bag. Gates open at 5:30 pm with the game starting at 6:30 pm.
• Celebrate Your Pet Bags
  Another successful Celebrate Your Pet campaign is winding down. Most of the wish list bags have gone out, with a few still waiting to be delivered. Thank you to everyone who helped support this campaign. What an absolute amazing program.
• Farmers Market Program
  Applications are rolling in for the 2024 Washington State Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. The Farmers Market Program provides $80 in benefits for low-income seniors to use at approved Farmers Markets. To qualify for participation, seniors must be aged 60 or older, meet the income requirements, and be residents of Benton or Franklin Counties. For more information contact Jose at 509-735-1911
• Congregate Dining
  If you haven’t had the opportunity to indulge in the amazing food and conversation at one of our eight dinning sites, I highly recommend you find the time and join the party. The food is always fresh, and the conversations are always fun and engaging.

If transportation costs are limiting your opportunity to spend time out in the community or joining us and some of the events we have planned, don’t forget we can help supplement Ben Franklin Transit transportation costs through a partnership with People for People and 2-1-1. If you’re interested or would like to know more, please contact Katrina at 509-735-1911.

Message From the Director
The State of Washington is once again funding
the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program,
and we will administer the program on their
behalf for the 2024 season. We will distribute
these benefits to qualified seniors who are
residents of Benton and Franklin Counties.
Funds provided will be pre-loaded on to a card
with a quick-response (QR) code for use at the
market.
The Farmer’s Market program provides funds via
electronic card for low-income seniors to use at
approved Farmers Markets. Seniors must be age
60 or older, meet the income requirements and
be residents of the State of Washington.
Participants are required to complete a new
application each year. To be included on the list
to receive an application, please call our office
at 509-735-1911. We expect to mail applications
on Monday, May 6.
You can mail your completed applications to:
Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels
1824 Fowler Street
Richland WA 99352
Benefit cards are provided on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s important to fully complete
and return the application as soon as possible.
You can mail your applications in or drop them
off at our office or your closest dining site. The
State of Washington has set June 1 as the first
date the cards will be activated, so seniors who
qualify will receive their cards in early June.

2023 was an amazing year. Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels achieved record highs in seniors served and total meals served. Additionally, 126 new seniors have already started receiving services through February 2024. Amazing!

A key part of fulfilling our mission is providing meals with at least 1/3 of the U.S. recommended dietary allowances for calories and nutrients. The menus created and the meals served have been approved by our Dietician and Certified Food Protection Manager. With over 2,500 seniors’ receiving meals, it’s important participants self-manage dietary restrictions or preferences. The Home Delivered Meals Participant Guide states, “all diet restrictions will be self-monitored by each client and each client is responsible for managing their own dietary intake.”

If you’re a home delivery client, at the beginning of each month, take a moment to review the menu and contact your Site Manager for any meals you would like replaced with a frozen meal. Site phone’s numbers can be found on the monthly menu or call (509) 735-1911 for assistance.

Please help us ensure you receive a nutritious meal that meets your
dietary restrictions or preferences. – Steven Davis, Director

Lea El Boletín Completo En Español (PDF) (Newsletter in Spanish)

In an important step to sustain and upgrade the Meals on
Wheels central Kitchen, we are excited to be entering into a
partnering agreement with Lamb Weston for a generous
$150,000 donation. This amazing partnership will support
kitchen improvements, including upgrades and expansion. In
recognition of the donation, the central kitchen will be named
the Lamb Weston Kitchen through 2029.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude for having the support and
trust of Lamb Weston. Together, we can achieve greatness in
preserving and enhancing the quality of life at home, with
dignity and care for seniors within Benton and Franklin counties.

I’ve spent the past 14 years working in public transportation with Ben Franklin Transit (BFT).  While with BFT, I had the opportunity to participate in almost all aspects of the organization including customer service, marketing, safety and training as well as serving as the Assistant Director of Operations.  I’m excited to join the Meals on Wheels family and be a part of an organization that has such a positive impact on the Tri-Cities Community.

My free moments are filled with all of the activities that come along with raising three kids.  My wife and I stay busy attending Taekwondo events and Basketball games while squeezing in as many music festivals and concerts as we can.  We also enjoy day trips throughout the state to enjoy many of the small-town adventures and excellent restaurants we can find. 

I look forward to this new chapter in my career and can’t wait to see how Meals on Wheels can continue to grow and service our community. 

Steven Davis

Read Full Newsletter in Spanish (PDF)

Applications are rolling in for the 2023 Washington State Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Please call or stop by our office if you’d like to sign up for the $80 benefit. Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis.

Due to the new structure of the program (moving from vouchers to benefit cards with electronic upload) we have experienced delays in our ability to process the applications as quickly as we have in previous years. For this, we apologize. We know how vital these funds are and how many people look forward to them. Looking forward, the average turnaround time will be about 15 days from receipt of application to mailing out the activated benefit card.

For anyone learning about the program for the first time, the Farmers Market Program provides $80 in benefits for low-income seniors to use at approved Farmers Markets. To qualify for participation, seniors must be age 60 or older, meet the income requirements, and be residents of Benton or Franklin Counties. Participants are required to complete a new application each year.

Applications are available. If you’d like one and haven’t yet received one, please call our office at 509-735-1911. We will happily mail an application to you. You can also pick applications up from our office. Home delivery clients can call their individual Site Managers to request to have one delivered by the volunteer drivers.

Seniors who are unable to shop for themselves can appoint a trusted friend or family member to act as a proxy to shop on their behalf. The proxy form is on the back side of the application.

Qualified seniors should legibly complete ALL parts of the  application and mail it or drop it off at our office as soon as possible after receiving the application. Benefit cards are awarded on a first-come/first-served basis. Seniors who qualify and fully complete the application will receive their card shortly after it has been processed. Applications can be mailed to the following address for processing:

We were blown away when we attended the check presentation at McCurley Subaru in Pasco to wrap up the 2022 Subaru Share the Love Event. In conjunction with Subaru of America, McCurley Subaru presented us with a  donation of $42,040 to our program. This is our tenth year as the Hometown Charity for the McCurley Subaru Share the Love Event, and we are forever grateful for the support we receive from our local Subaru dealer. The support continues beyond the dealership; you may recall, members of the McCurley Subaru Sales Team also joined our volunteers to deliver meals to our clients. The team at McCurley Subaru is a great group of folks and we appreciate getting to partner with them for this event and throughout the year.

Thank you, McCurley Subaru!