Grant to aid C.O. senior nutrition program
Central Oregon Council on Aging has received a $30,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to expand its senior nutrition programs.
“Seniors are our most vulnerable populations and those that experience hunger or malnutrition are at risk for serious health problems,” says Matt Verdieck, Executive Officer of the Central Oregon Council on Aging.
“Our seniors need more than a hot meal. With the financial assistance of our sponsoring partner, Walmart, COCOA can extend our services to seniors to include nutritional counseling to ensure wise food choices, disease prevention and better overall health.”
Nutritional counseling and education is an essential and required service of COCOA. The proposed program will increase the capacity of the organization by educating case managers and staff responsible for planning and preparing food, as well as our seniors. These services will supplement COCOA’s Meals on Wheels and congregate meal programs.
“Walmart is happy to continue our partnership with the Central Oregon Councilon Aging,” said Madeleine Havener, vice president and regional general manager for Walmart. “In the past five years, we have provided financial support, merchandise and pass through funds through Meals on Wheels to support COCOA. We hope COCOA’s nutritional education and counseling can help our Central Oregon seniors with their long-term health goals.”
COCOA’s proposed plan will provide nutritional education at congregate meal sites four times per year, train meal site staff in food selection, handling, and preparation health and safety standards, develop a book of approved menus at meal sites, improve distribution of printed nutrition educational materials to seniors, and train the case managers in nutritional counseling, thereby building the capacity of the organization to offer nutritional counseling on a long-term basis.
The Walmart Foundation has provided over $80,000 in support to the Central Oregon Council on Aging since 2009.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts. By operating globally and giving back locally, Walmart is uniquely positioned to address the needs of the communities it serves and make a significant social impact within its core areas of giving: Hunger Relief & Healthy Eating, Sustainability, Career Opportunity and Women’s Economic Empowerment. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States with a $2 billion commitment through 2015. Walmart has donated more than 1 billion meals to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.
