By, Bonnita Wirth, Ph.D.—LH Foundation, Grants Committee
During the early weeks of the coronavirus crisis, many grocery items, meat, and fresh
produce could not be purchased or were rationed. Grocery shopping, for those who had resources, had changed. For many people, obtaining what was considered a “needed” item, became their daily or weekly mission. They would scour on-line shopping sites or go to multiple stores to obtain toilet paper, eggs, sanitizing products, pasta, meat, etc. etc.
The nightly news was filled with stories of empty grocery shelves or special shopping hours for seniors, who are considered a vulnerable population. Neighbors started sharing food items and grocery shopping trips to limit exposure to the potential of the virus. Many people expressed concern and anxiety about the food supply in the nation.
It is estimated that “in Placer County nearly 30,000 adults age 60 and over do not know with certainty where their next meal will come from. Food insecure seniors are not necessarily food insecure all the time; it may simply reflect a need to make trade-offs between important basic needs such as housing, utilities, prescription medication, or purchasing nutritionally adequate food.” (Seniors First website).
One of our Neighbors who is assisting this community is The Salt Mine, a local public charity offering emergency services to the cities of Lincoln and Sheridan. The Salt Mine is sponsored by Vine Life Ministries, Inc., and has been in operation for over thirty-five years. Their Food Closet is funded by donations and through the proceeds from the sales at their Thrift Store in Lincoln (The Salt Mine Thrift Shop, 103 Flocchini Circle). In 2019 every dollar donated translated into two (2) meals for our community. All items sold in the Thrift Store are donated by local supporters. The Thrift Store helps to fund the Food Closet and other programs while also providing the community an affordable option for clothing, furniture, and a wide variety of household goods. In addition, The Salt Mine helps with emergency clothing, household items, and transportation. Other emergency needs are met on an ’as available basis’ or by referral such as bathing and laundry facilities to name a few.
The Lincoln Hills Foundation is proud to be a sponsor of The Salt Mine’s food programs for seniors. The feeding programs offer a variety of opportunities for food distribution, so no family needs to go without food. They offer monthly Pantry Boxes (which include bread, dairy, fresh vegetables and fruit, and meat products) for 14 days of meals, weekly USDA Emergency Food Assistance, and over 25 fresh food giveaways a month. In the fiscal year 2019, The Salt Mine served over 700 unduplicated seniors (people who came one time) and 8,000 duplicated seniors in their feeding programs. (Over 22 tons of food, nutrition, and hygiene products were distributed to seniors). The Salt Mine anticipates even more seniors will be assisted this year.
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Seniors First “Meals on Wheels/My Meals”
Right here in Sun City Lincoln Hills we have neighbors who face mealtimes with an empty fridge or pantry. It may be financial resources or it might be the inability to get to the store but the end result is the same, nothing to eat and no way to get it. Members of this community have an option, Seniors First “Meals on Wheels/My Meals” program, an organization that provides nutritious meals at lunchtime to seniors in Placer County who cannot shop for or prepare meals. The meals are nutritious and generous and a lunchtime delivery often stretches to cover an evening meal as well.
Professionally prepared meals, either hot or cold are packaged in special containers for transport to distribution points. In Lincoln meals arrive at the Lincoln Senior Center on “H” street where volunteers divide up the containers for delivery. There is an option for meal pick up as well, if preferred.
Beyond meal delivery there are also other benefits, human contact and wellness checks. Many seniors who need meal assistance are those who also live alone and are unable to leave their homes. It is not unusual for a delivery volunteer to spend a bit of time chatting with the recipient and as they get to know their regulars if something seems unusual as they deliver or there is no answer they may see a need to call for assistance.
Qualifications require that one be 60 years of age or older, or the spouse of an eligible client, or a person (of any age) with a disability who lives with a client. The Lincoln Hills Foundation provides seniors with about 5,000 meals a year through a grant to the Meals on Wheels program. Further information on how to volunteer or receive services call Seniors First, (530) 878-5718.
Watch Lincoln Live’s interview with LHF President Jeff Andersen
We would like to express our appreciation to Southern Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning socoheatingair.com/ac-installation-in-lincoln-ca/ for being a 2020 Lincoln Hills Foundation corporate sponsor. As a company that knows SCLH well, their contribution gives back to the community and will be part of the matching fund process on May 7th.
Due to the COVID-19 virus, the Lincoln Hills Foundation has put Bingo in the Ballroom on hold until it is determined that large group gatherings are considered safe again.
