Senior nutrition program to expand

In 1974, the state of Indiana designated the West Central Indiana Economic Development District as the Area 7 Agency on Aging.

Until 1994, the agency had a Senior Nutrition Program site hosted by the Putnam Senior Center in Cloverdale by the American Legion.

Due to a decrease in funds from the federal and state contractors, the agency was forced to close dining sites across a six-county service area, including the site in Cloverdale.

Earlier this week, WCIEDD announced that the Senior Nutrition Program's home delivery initiative would be expanding to serve seniors in Cloverdale and Greencastle.

Current staff and volunteers are being put in place now.

Meals will be delivered one day a week to clients in the Cloverdale and Greencastle areas who qualify.

A home delivery driver will bring five frozen meals as well as milk, bread and desserts to clients.

Meals will come in containers that can be heated in microwave or conventional ovens.

Delivered meals are available to qualifying individuals 60 years of age or older whom an Area 7 case manager, who will use federal guidelines for the determination, deems eligible.

Those who receive meals are asked to make a donation if possible ($2 per meal is the recommended donation).

Those younger than 60 who are homebound or those older than 60 who meet other funding guidelines may also request a screening from a case manager.

For more information or to request a home delivery program assessment, call (800) 489-1561.

Funding for Agency 7 is provided by the United Way of Putnam County and the Putnam County office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.