This month Copper Country Senior Meals (CCSM) is joining the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in celebrating Older Americans Month. ACL is focusing on aging in place – how older adults can plan to stay in their homes and live independently in their communities for as long as possible. The 2022 theme is Age My Way, an opportunity for all of us to explore the many ways older adults can remain in and be involved with their communities.
“This celebration fits perfectly with what Copper Country Senior Meals does,” Executive Director Kathleen Harter said. “We deliver nearly 300 meals a day to help people who live independently at their houses or apartments. For many of our residents, the daily visit provides a social interaction and a wellness check which is absolutely vital to their ability to continue living in their homes.”
As part of Older Americans Month, CCSM is partnering with the Portage Health Foundation for a special series of podcast episodes highlighting what makes Senior Meals such a special organization in Michigan’s Copper Country. Episodes will include an overview of CCSM with Harter, a visit with some of the staff that made more than 86,000 meals for our community in 2021, a ride along with one of the beloved delivery drivers and a stop at one of the Congregate Meal Sites that take place each week throughout the Copper Country.
In addition, Copper Country Senior Meals has launched a GoFundMe. This crowdsourcing effort will help purchase new equipment to keep the hot meals hot and the cold meals cold for the everyday deliveries in Houghton and Keweenaw counties. CCSM is looking to raise $5,205. If the goal is met, the organization will be able to purchase 15 new coolers and eight new hot bags. These tools were piloted in 2021 with funding from the Portage Health Auxiliary.
“The results were incredible,” Harter said. “Our hot meals were at a higher temperature than we’ve ever seen before right through the last delivery. That makes a huge difference in the ability for our seniors to enjoy these meals.”
Support Copper Country Senior Meals crowdfunding effort by going to gofundme.com/f/senior-meals-delivery-equipment. Learn more about Copper Country Senior Meals at coppercountryseniormeals.org.