Meals on Wheels, winter weather and resources for seniors

-The New Year has arrived and it brought with it arctic temperatures. Being able to handle cold, snowy and icy weather is a point of pride for all of us who live here, but as much as we hate to admit it, Old Man Winter occasionally interferes with even the best-laid plans.

Each of our Meals on Wheels program sites make the best effort to remain open during nasty winter weather, but occasionally it’s just too dangerous to send volunteers out on the road to deliver meals. If our local programs are forced to close because of weather, we’ll be sure to let you know. You can find out about closings in a number of ways:

• Check our website, www.meals-on-wheels.com
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
• Call your local program or call us at 612-623-3363

It’s important to note that our volunteers are able to deliver in all but the worst of conditions. Receiving meals is a great option for those experiencing mobility issues, especially during the winter. If you or a loved one could benefit from receiving fresh, home-delivered meals, please contact us at 612-623-3363 or sign up online to receive meals.

Before winter began, we arranged to have shelf-stable meals provided to many of our clients. Last fall, volunteers packed more than 5,200 meals that were delivered to clients for use when drivers can’t make it out on the road as part of our annual Blizzard Box Blitz event. Each box also contained information and resources for clients that can be helpful during extreme winter weather.

Here are a few additional resources that seniors and caregivers may find helpful during the winter:

• The Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management winter weather resource page.
• The Living at Home Network resource page for home-care programs and chore services for seniors. You can also find resources specific to your neighborhood by calling 1-800-320-1707.
• Snow shoveling services as organized by MinnesotaHelp.info. You can also call the Senior LinkAge line to find these and other services in your neighborhood: 1-800-333-2433.

Please consider checking in with seniors and people with disabilities in your neighborhood during inclement weather. Those with mobility issues may experience compounded difficulties with getting the things they need when we are all having trouble getting around.