AgeWays Distributes Emergency Food Boxes to Seniors

AgeWays will begin distributing over 1,000 emergency food boxes to seniors in its six-county region this week. The nonprofit serves seniors in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw counties.  

AgeWays is using three different methods to make sure it can get food out quickly to the seniors who need it. Seniors can either pick up the food at distribution events being held this Friday at two centralized pick-up locations (one in Macomb County and one in Monroe County), pick up a box from their local Meals on Wheels provider, or opt to have the box delivered to their home.

Two pop-up distributions will be held on Friday, April 17, from noon to 2 p.m.

1. Macomb Community Action Loading Dock:
   44900 Vic Wertz Drive, Clinton Township, MI 48036
2. Cabella’s Parking Lot: Dundee
   110 Cabela Blvd, East Dundee, MI 48131

At the pop-up distribution events, emergency food boxes will be given to any senior, 60 or older who resides in the AgeWays’s six-county area while supplies last. AgeWays staff will be assisting staff in getting the food boxes in vehicles.

The emergency boxes are designed to provide basics to help isolated seniors stretch their food resources during the coronavirus pandemic and the governor’s Stay Safe/Stay Home Executive Order. Boxes will contain a variety of staples and shelf-stable food, including canned vegetables, canned meat, rice, pasta and peanut butter. The boxes contain enough food to create 22 meals. Meal options and recipe ideas will be included in the boxes.

Other seniors, who requested assistance  using a webform launched by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) in late March, were given the option of having the boxes delivered to their home. These deliveries will be taking place late this week and early next week.

MDHHS secured 10,000 food boxes that it then distributed to 16 Area Agencies on Aging throughout the state. The food was secured in partnership with the Food Bank Council of Michigan and Gleaner’s Community Food Bank.

“We are grateful to be able to be there to help the seniors in our region,” said Michael Karson, AgeWays president and CEO. “This situation has been particularly hard on them. They are the most vulnerable, and we want to make sure they have what they need without having to risk having to go out to the store.”

While this initial distribution is being limited to those who have already made a request, AgeWays is working on additional ways to get food to isolated seniors who are in need of help during the crisis. The organization is anticipating making additional distributions and encouraging older adults residing in its six-county region to continue to request assistance calling AgeWays directly at 800-852-7795. Seniors living in other parts of the state can continue to request assistance via the webform, which can be found at Michigan.gov/osa.