Cache County seniors get new wheels for hot meals

The Cache County Senior Citizens Center has received a grant of $90,000 to purchase two new vehicles for the Meals-on-Wheels program.

“This is perhaps one of the biggest things that I am most excited about and probably the most emotional about,” said Kristine Johnson, the director of the center.

Johnson said the current vehicles which are used to transport meals to senior citizens in the community are well worn and she has been worried about them breaking down.

The Community Development Block Grant program is a federally-funded program designed to help the communities of Box Elder, Cache and Rich Counties address critical needs.

“We were very pleased they put in the application for the trucks,” said Cory Yeates, a Cache County Council member and board member over the grant program. He said from now on the program is not allowing the grant to be used for vehicles and the center narrowly missed the restriction, recognizing the center’s need for new transportation.

“I think most of the council members have been on the Meals-on-Wheels run,” said Greg Merrill, the Cache County Council chairman. “It is not just delivering the meals but it was an eye-opener for me to see the number of individuals who have some basic survival needs that the program provides.”

Johnson explained the new vehicles will be able to expand the efforts of the many volunteers involved with the program. She said volunteers served more than 43,000 meals in 2015 and that number should increase when the new vehicles, which will include built-in ovens and refrigerators, are purchased.

“I am in awe of people who volunteer especially in the senior population,” Johnson said. “People are so willing to give their time. Some of the drivers drive two or three times a week because they know how important their service is.”

The center will purchase the vehicles on July 12 and volunteers will continue delivering meals and assisting seniors throughout the community.

“It gives people comfort to have a hot meal and for some of them it might be the only meal they have that day,” Johnson said.

Merrill said the new vehicles will improve the program and emphasized the importance of the service program in the county.

“I know when I went you could always see them light up,” Merrill said. “Most of us live pretty comfortably and don’t even think about it but for many of those recipients it is a basic essential need for their survival.”

The Cache County Senior Citizens Center has received a grant of $90,000 to purchase two new vehicles for the Meals-on-Wheels program.

“This is perhaps one of the biggest things that I am most excited about and probably the most emotional about,” said Kristine Johnson, the director of the center.

Johnson said the current vehicles which are used to transport meals to senior citizens in the community are well worn and she has been worried about them breaking down.

The Community Development Block Grant program is a federally-funded program designed to help the communities of Box Elder, Cache and Rich Counties address critical needs.

“We were very pleased they put in the application for the trucks,” said Cory Yeates, a Cache County Council member and board member over the grant program. He said from now on the program is not allowing the grant to be used for vehicles and the center narrowly missed the restriction, recognizing the center’s need for new transportation.

“I think most of the council members have been on the Meals-on-Wheels run,” said Greg Merrill, the Cache County Council chairman. “It is not just delivering the meals but it was an eye-opener for me to see the number of individuals who have some basic survival needs that the program provides.”

Johnson explained the new vehicles will be able to expand the efforts of the many volunteers involved with the program. She said volunteers served more than 43,000 meals in 2015 and that number should increase when the new vehicles, which will include built-in ovens and refrigerators, are purchased.

“I am in awe of people who volunteer especially in the senior population,” Johnson said. “People are so willing to give their time. Some of the drivers drive two or three times a week because they know how important their service is.”

The center will purchase the vehicles on July 12 and volunteers will continue delivering meals and assisting seniors throughout the community.

“It gives people comfort to have a hot meal and for some of them it might be the only meal they have that day,” Johnson said.

Merrill said the new vehicles will improve the program and emphasized the importance of the service program in the county.

“I know when I went you could always see them light up,” Merrill said. “Most of us live pretty comfortably and don’t even think about it but for many of those recipients it is a basic essential need for their survival.”