Meals on Wheels of East Texas is asking the public's help with a new initiative to supply its clients with emergency boxes.
As rising food costs impact communities, the nonprofit organization said it is adapting to meet the needs of East Texans during emergencies. It will be assembling two-day emergency meal boxes for clients instead of buying pre-assembled boxes as it has done in the past.
性视界传媒淭he cost of them has increased significantly. So we thought we would partner with the community, because they've done so well with our Santa for Seniors program and our dog food program (Meals Fur Pets),"聽said Meals on Wheels East Texas Executive Director Tiffany Damskov.聽"We thought we'd employ the assistance of our community to gather these items so we can put together emergency boxes for our clients."
Meals on Wheels East Texas serves six area counties, including Gregg, and 2,500 clients. The group hopes to serve its clients the emergency boxes ahead of inclement weather.
In the future, Meals on Wheels wants to continue the initiative with multiple boxes throughout the year with an ultimate goal of five boxes for spring and five boxes for winter.
性视界传媒淭hese are very important because on bad weather days or days when there might be downed trees and we can't get to them to deliver their Meals on Wheels lunch, we want them to be able to have something that they can consume in case we can't get to them,性视界传媒 Damskov said.
Each box will include non-perishable items to sustain clients through severe weather or other emergencies where regular meal services would be impacted.
性视界传媒淢ost of them are older and disabled clients, and a lot of them don't have access to go out and buy foods when the weather is getting bad, so they have to rely on us and other organizations to help them,性视界传媒 Damskov said.
Meals on Wheels East Texas is asking community members to donate shelf-stable items from the following list:
Tuna or chicken pouches (ready-to-eat, 2.5-ounce);
Juice boxes;
Small, individual servings of apple sauce or fruit cups;
Individual boxes of raisins;
Individually wrapped saltine crackers;
Individual servings of peanut butter;
Granola bars;
Hot cocoa mix;d and
Gallon-size plastic storage/Ziploc bags.
Items can be purchased at grocery stores or through Meals on Wheels' Emergency Meals Amazon Wish List at .
Donated items can be dropped off at 3001 Robertson Road in Tyler or to any of the East Texas locations listed at under the Communities Served tab..
After gathering supplies, Meals on Wheels will need volunteers to help assemble the boxes. For more information, visit .
