The Berks County Area Agency on Aging is proud to introduce the Produce Plus Program, a new nutrition initiative to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to older adults. Seasonal produce packages are now being delivered once a week to participants in the Home Delivered Meals Program.
The Area Agency on Aging has worked for years with Berks Encore to coordinate the Home Delivered Meals Program, which provides seven meals each week to participants. Now through a new partnership with Helping Harvest, the deliveries include a package of fresh produce and perishables on Tuesdays.
“The Produce Plus program was created to enhance and promote health and wellness for older adults in Berks County,” said Jessica Jones, Director of the Area Agency on Aging. “This partnership program between the Area Agency on Aging, Helping Harvest and Berks Encore also helps address the ongoing food insecurity issues we have been seeing with older adults.”
Jessica Jones, Director of the Berks County Area Agency on Aging, and LuAnn Oatman, President/CEO of Berks Heim, Lori Lowery, Volunteer and Senior Services Manager for Helping Harvest, and Doug Long, Director of Development for Helping Harvest, with a recent week’s Produce Plus package of watermelon, pineapple, grapes and yogurt.
The Produce Plus Program is a true collaboration between the three organizations. The program is made possible through funding from the Area Agency on Aging. Helping Harvest supplies and packages the produce and perishable items and then drops them off at Berks Encore each Tuesday morning. Volunteers at Berks Encore then pack the Produce Plus packets with that day’s meal and deliver them to homes.
“We are so excited to partner with the Area Agency on Aging and Berks Encore to provide fresh food for seniors in Berks County,” said Jay Worrall, President of Helping Harvest. “We think this is a perfect example of how well our agencies can work together to meet the nutritional needs of seniors with fresh, healthy food options.”
The Produce Plus program delivers fresh items that would typically only be accessible by visiting a farmers market or grocery store. Recent packages have included strawberries, watermelon, cherry tomatoes and even yogurt.
“One homebound lady was just so excited because the package the other week included blueberries and she hadn’t had fresh blueberries in years,” said LuAnn Oatman, President/CEO of Berks Encore.
Jones and Oatman said Berks Encore is always looking for more volunteers to help deliver meals and build relationships with the older adults in the program. Meals are delivered each weekday, with a larger delivery on Fridays to cover the weekend. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Berks Encore at 610-374-3195, ext. 225. For more information about eligibility for the Home Delivered Meals Program, please call 610-574-3195, ext. 220.
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'Produce Plus Program' Delivers Fresh Fruit and Veggies to Seniors - bctv.org
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