Despite the cold, the Central Arkansas Meals on Wheels service continues to serve elders

Little Rock, Arkansas – CareLink’s Meals on Wheels program is helping reduce hunger among more than five million seniors in central Arkansas who are 60 years of age or older.

Meals on Wheels aims to improve senior persons’ independence, health, and quality of life while attempting to lower the numbers.

“This program is important nationwide, but especially here in our home state of Arkansas, which is among the top 10 states in the country for senior hunger,” stated Michelle Gilbert, vice president of development at Care Link.

Gilbert claims that since “food insecurity knows no demographics,” there are no income constraints.

Gilbert stated, “It could be that people lack the money to buy food, but it could also be that they are unable to drive to the grocery store or have the mobility to get up and stand long enough to prepare a meal for themselves.”

Every day, more than 900 seniors in Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Maumelle are served by the Meals on Wheels program.

Everything about the program, including preparation, cooking, packaging, and delivery, is done by staff and volunteers.

“Because we want to be able to have the meals hot and ready to go, our kitchen staff arrives between three and four in the morning and starts cooking early,” Gilbert explained.

When the weather is bad and there is snow on the ground, the meals continue; they simply go in a different direction.

“We will send out a box of what we call shelf-stable meals in December every year at the beginning of winter,” Gilbert stated.

These seniors’ nutritional needs are still met by the meals. In the upcoming weeks, Gilbert stated, “We will deliver another similar box.” He continued, “We will call everyone and tell them that today is the day they need to use the inclement weather box, take advantage of those shelf-stable meals, that will get them through the weekend.”

As seniors sit by the window and watch the snowfall, the shelf-stable meals help satisfy their hunger and make them happy.

Visit CareLink.org to learn more or to sign up for Meals on Wheels.