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Welcome Betsy Spencer: Nutrition Outreach Worker

My name is Betsy Spencer and I happy to introduce myself as Foodnet’s new Nutrition Outreach Coordinator.  My responsibilities include conducting home visits to complete yearly reassessments with all of Foodnet’s wonderful clients as well as helping anyone interested fill out Food Stamp applications.  My previous work experience includes working with the elderly in a nursing home and also working as a health inspector for a county health department. 

I graduated from Northern Illinois University in May of 2008 and then joined the Peace Corps.  I was in the Dominican Republic for nearly 2 ½ years as a Peace Corps Volunteer and returned to the good ole US of A in December of this past year.  I am originally from Illinois but I moved to Bath, NY in February to be closer to family.  I have a chubby, loving cat named Could-be who came home with me from the Dominican Republic, and I also have sweet, corky little puppy named Cooper.  Cooper and I are big fans of the dog park.  We love it here in Ithaca and I could not be happier to be your Nutrition Outreach Worker!

 

 

 

Customers at Wilson Farms “STEP UP”

To Help Foodnet Meals on Wheels

Month-long fundraising campaign at local stores provides home-delivered meals

 for homebound seniors

 

 

BUFFALO, N.Y.—  Foodnet Meals on Wheels announced today that it has been awarded $582 from Wilson Farms as part of “Step Up to the Plate,” a statewide campaign to raise money for senior nutrition programs.

The campaign ran from October 27 through November 27 at all Wilson Farms, Sugarcreek and Wilson Farms Xpress convenience stores. Customers had the opportunity to purchase paper plates for one dollar with all the proceeds benefiting the nearest senior nutrition program.

Last year, the campaign raised $28,000 to help provide home-delivered meals for homebound elderly and disabled residents. Since 2004, “Step Up to the Plate” has raised more than $212,000 throughout central and western New York State.

“We thank Wilson Farms for its ongoing support of Meals on Wheels, and its commitment to the health and well-being of our homebound neighbors,” said Stephen Griffin, Executive Director for Foodnet Meals on Wheels. “The money raised from this year’s campaign will help provide meals for those who might not otherwise be served.”

 

 
2010: A Look Back
 
I’m proud of the board, staff and volunteers of Foodnet Meals on Wheels who work with such energy and goodwill to end senior hunger. During 2010 we have
 
bullet Served more than 205,000 meals while giving a choice of one or two meals to 500 people a day in Tompkins County.
bullet Provided more food through the senior nutrition program by offering a supplemental sandwich meal at community meal sites.
bullet Helped low-income seniors apply for SNAP (food stamp) benefits and other supportive services.

 
I’m thankful for the enthusiastic support of our community:
 
bullet Over 300 people signed our pledge to end senior hunger, showing they care about the issue and will help by volunteering, making a gift, or telling others about the service.
bullet Ithaca SufferJets and BlueStockings roller derby teams helped with outreach, served meals to seniors, and teamed up for fundraising at the Roller Derby Wheel-a-thon in July.
bullet The Walmart Foundation awarded a $15,000 Impact Grant that helped Foodnet get a new delivery van at a great price through the Meals on Wheels Association of America.
bullet Local foundations, businesses, and individuals worked together to raise funds for a standby power generator so our kitchen will be prepared to help in case of emergency.

 
In 2011, we look forward to working together with the Tompkins County Office for the Aging, the United Way, and all our community partners.

 
Best wishes for a happy new year,

 
Stephen Griffin
Executive Director
Foodnet Meals on Wheels
2422 N. Triphammer Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

 

 
Learn more at www.foodnet.org or call (607) 266-9553

 
PS If you agree our work is important, please consider making a gift to help end senior hunger in our area. Checks may be made payable to Foodnet Meals on Wheels and mailed to the address above, or you may make a secure online donation through our website or by clicking on the “donate now”  button.

 
 DonateNow

 

Read the Current Newsletter:

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Picnic on June 24 at Stewart Park

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Tompkins Care Connection - access to long term care services

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Recyclable items in the Meals on Wheels deliveries

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Free library books by mail

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More...

 

 

Wei-Chun Julia Tang completes Community Nutrition Rotation at Foodnet Meals on Wheels

Foodnet Registered Dietitian Carolyn Arnold and Dietetic Intern Julia Tang

Thank you for letting me be the here to help out these past few months. I have really enjoyed the time spent at Foodnet with such a nice group of people, doing very amazing work. I have learned a lot from you and I thank the board for their willingness to help me out.

 

 

[New!]Profile of Home Delivered Meal Services by NYS Association of Area Agencies on Aging, May 20, 2010

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Criteria to receive home delivered meals

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Nutrition : A Foundation for Wellness

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Profile of those who receive Home Delivered Meals

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Nutrition Risk

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Economic Status

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Additional Services

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Quality of Life

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Impact on the Lives of Seniors

Click here for the full report

[New!]March 2011 Newsletter

February 2011 Newsletter

January 2011 Newsletter

December 2010 Newsletter

November 2010 Newsletter

October 2010 Newsletter

September 2010 Newsletter

June 2010 Newsletter

May 2010 Newsletter

2009 Annual Report

Walmart Impact Grant

Foodnet Meals on Wheels is the recipient of a $15,000 grant from the Walmart Impact Grant Program. The award will enable Foodnet to purchase a new delivery van to replace an aging vehicle in the agency's fleet of nine. The Meals on Wheels Association of America reviews proposals funded by the Walmart Foundation and selected the Tompkins County-based program to receive the grant.

In 2009, the Walmart Foundation awarded a grant of $2.2 million to MOWAA. Through this funding, 140 MOWAA programs across the nation will be able to upgrade or replace delivery vehicles, stoves, refrigerators and freezers. These improvements will help increase the number of meals provided to seniors facing the threat of hunger.

In a letter from Meals on Wheels Association of America CEO, Enid Borden, stated, "The difficulties facing programs as a result of the economic downturn were clearly evident in the Impact Grant applications, the number of which far exceeded the available funding. This unfortunately meant that we could neither award grants to all applicants nor fund every winning proposal to the full extent requested." 

Executive Director Steve Griffin said "I am very pleased with the outcome of our request and feel fortunate that our Tompkins County organization was one of the select few to receive this generous grant. It is an affirmation of the quality of the program, staff and board."

Foodnet Meals on Wheels provides a choice of one or two meals daily delivered meals to more than 500 low-income elderly people living in Tompkins County.

 

 

 

Text Relay Available Through This Website

 

Foodnet Meals on Wheels now has a Free Text Relay button on this website to make it easy for anyone with hearing loss or speech issues to call us. Simply click on the "Call Now" button and a Text Relay window will open immediately and place a call to our main phone number. You type your side of the conversation, while the relay operator reads it aloud to our staff at Foodnet. When we respond, the relay operator types our spoken words, so you can read the spoken side of the conversation. The best time to call Foodnet is 7:00am to 3:00pm on weekdays, otherwise you may get our answering machine.

 

Proper Use of Meal Trays

The meal trays can be reheated in a microwave or conventional oven. They should not be used in a toaster oven. They are made of fiber board with a clear cover, so you can see the food without opening the tray. The trays are made from pre-consumer recycled paper and may be rinsed out and placed in your curbside recycling bin. You may occasionally receive a meal in an aluminum container depending on available supplies and production schedule of our kitchen.

 

Nutrition Outreach

Foodnet's Nutrition Outreach Worker connects seniors to supportive services, including pre-screening and application assistance for the SNAP Food Benefit Card. Foodnet will help eligible seniors apply. Call our hotline at (607) 266-0654 for more information.

 

MOWAA Foundation releases groundbreaking study

"The Causes, Consequences, and Future of Senior Hunger in America"

The most comprehensive national research study to look exclusively at senior hunger in the United States. Click below for:

brief highlights

full report

 To learn more about the Meals on Wheels Association of America, visit www.mowaa.org

 

 
 

 

Send mail to info@foodnet.org with any questions or comments.                     
Last modified: January 04, 2012