ASHLAND — The Ashland County Council on Aging has already delivered 19,000 more meals this year than it did in 2019.
The local nonprofit has already served 74,000 meals in 2020 and will likely exceed 90,000 delivered meals by the end of December due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to executive director, Sandy Enderby.
“We’ve experienced increased food costs obviously and increased maintenance on the vehicles we deliver the food in,” Enderby said.
To assist in the latter, the Ashland County Commissioners presented a $150,000 check to the Council on Aging at their Thursday meeting. The funding comes from the CARES Act, which is for COVID-19 response efforts.
The nonprofit will use the funds to purchase three new delivery vehicles. Two will replace older trucks, and the third will allow the organization to add a new route. Expanding from six to seven routes will allow meals to be delivered more efficiently, according to Enderby.
“I know that it doesn’t do any good putting (money) towards food if you can’t get it to them, and knowing the need of the vehicles. Some are truly unsafe,” Commissioner Denny Bittle said about the use of the CARES Act dollars.
Heating and cooling units will be installed in the vehicles. They should be ready and on the road by mid-January.
“If (seniors) are scared and don’t want to leave their house because of the COVID, we’re still going to be able to serve them,” Enderby said.
The Council’s Home Delivered Meal Program currently serves 645 clients. Between 450 and 470 meals are delivered daily across Ashland County. Any Ashland County resident who is age 60 or older qualifies for the program.
