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NFSB Launches Harvest and Heart Senior Meal Delivery Program for Local Seniors
Several years ago, the Food Pantry at Nutley Family Service Bureau (NFSB) added more nutritious, fresh food items and transitioned to a personalized shopping experience. These enhancements soon made their way to the two senior residences in Nutley – Nutley Manor and Nutley Parkside Apartments.
While residents were extremely grateful that they could choose from fresh proteins, produce, dairy, and baked goods, we found that many would still opt for boxed and canned items.“A handful of residents still have a passion for cooking,” said NFSB Food Pantry Director Joan Roake. “But most take the past of least resistance, and some are physically unable to prepare their own food. Last fall, our intern did a survey among the residents and confirmed what we knew anecdotally – they were very interested in receiving prepared meals.”
NFSB is responding by rolling out the Harvest and Heart Senior Meal Delivery Program to Nutley Manor. Once per month, volunteers will bring nutritious, ready-to-eat meals to all residents who would like them. Ideally, the program will increase to two deliveries per month and expand to Nutley Parkside Apartments and the greater Nutley area.
Making the Harvest and Heart Senior Meal Delivery Program Work
Two Thanksgivings ago, instead of distributing large baskets with turkeys and side dishes, NFSB partnered with the Culinary Arts team at Nutley High School, who prepared Thanksgiving dinners for residents. NFSB is working on a similar partnership with the school in which we provide the food and they provide the culinary tools and talent.The Food Pantry is hoping to prevent food waste through gleaning, which involves collecting unused food from local restaurants, catering halls, supermarkets, delis, and other food establishments.
“As with everything we do in the Food Pantry, we rely on the kindness of the greater community,” Joan said. “We’ll work with local partners to pickup unused food, immediately package it, and freeze it until we’re ready to prepare meals for delivery.”
How You Can Support the Harvest and Heart Senior Meal Delivery Program
Ask your favorite restaurants and food establishments what they do with excess food. Instead of throwing it out, see if they would be willing to donate it to the Food Pantry. We’re creating a flyer that you can bring to any local business or organization that might have clamshell containers and other supplies used to transport individual prepared meals.
We’ll need volunteers to pick up unused food from local partners and immediately package it for freezing. Volunteers will also bring food to Nutley High School to be prepared and deliver meals directly to the residents of the Nutley senior buildings.
“We hope to assign the same one or two volunteers to each individual,” Joan said. “That way, a relationship can grow and volunteers can check on them. We can bring in case management if they need assistance or refer them for mental health services.”Although we’re relying almost exclusively on volunteers, donated food, and donated culinary talent, funding is needed to get the Harvest and Heart Senior Meal Delivery Program off the ground and eventually expand across the community. Please consider donating to NFSB and support programs that have an impact right here at home!
