Meals on Wheels is a program for Seniors 60+ years of age, who are homebound and/or cannot cook for themselves. Sierra Senior Providers deliver hot, nutritionally balanced meals to the home. A person needing a home delivered meal service can have meals for five days and two frozen meals for the weekend.
Meals are prepared and packaged by the Meals on Wheels staff at the Tuolumne County Senior Center. Hot, home delivered meal service is offered five days a week to the Sonora, Tuolumne, Jamestown, Columbia and Phoenix Lake areas. In addition, two frozen meals can be delivered on Fridays for weekend consumption. Seniors living in other areas of Tuolumne County are provided seven frozen meals, according to his/her needs, delivered once a week.
Meal Service
The home delivered meal service is not a catering service. There is a pre-set menu which has been approved by a registered RDA dietician. All meals consist of a protein entree, two servings of fruits or vegetables, bread, butter, dessert and milk. At the present time, the program is unable to alter the menu to meet individual likes or dislikes. A modified diabetic diet is offered to stable diabetics who control their own diet.
Enrolling in the Program
Call Joi or Mary at the Senior Center (209-533-2622) for information about enrolling in the home delivered meal program. A Meals on Wheels caseworker will process your request. In most cases, the meals will be started on the day following your request.
The Support
Home delivered meals are partially funded by the Area 12 Agency on Aging and the United Way of Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties, Inc. In addition, a number of contributions are received from individuals and from grants. Since these funds do not cover the full cost of meals, recipients are given the opportunity of donating to the meals program. A donation of $4.00 is suggested. However, no eligible individual shall be denied a meal because of their inability to contibute or donate. In addition, numerous volunteers donate their time to assist in packaging, delivering, finding, tracking and telephone work.
Volunteers Needed
The Meals on Wheels Program is also supported by a large number of volunteers who donate their time to assist in packaging or delivering the meals. Volunteers also help in the office with finding, tracking and telephone work. More volunteers are always needed and generally work 2 to 5 hours a day, once a week depending on the time the volunteer has available and the type of job the volunteer chooses. To volunteer, please call 209-533-2622 between 8:00am and 4:00pm, Monday through Friday.
This program is partially funded by Area 12 Agency on Aging with Title III Older Americans Act Funding. Our seniors count on your contributions. Please remember us in your will, trust or estate. Sierra Senior Providers is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)3 of the IRS code - Tax ID #77-0432625.