Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels continues to offer weekly frozen meals to all seniors and vouchers for fresh produce at area farmers markets to low-income seniors.

The frozen meal service is available for all Benton and Franklin county seniors ages 60 and over. All senior meals are provided on a donation-only basis.

Homebound seniors are eligible to receive a weekly delivery of seven frozen meals. Seniors who still drive may pick up their meals at the following locations:

• Meals on Wheels Café/administration offices, 1824 Fowler St., Richland: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Kennewick, Pasco, Pasco Parkside, Richland, Benton City and Prosser sites: 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays.
• Connell Community Center, 211 E. Elm St.: 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays.

“We know that many seniors are worried about access to food during this pandemic. We want to reassure all local seniors that we are here to offer meal assistance if they need us. We’ve been working hard to secure funding for our program, and thanks to amazing community support, we’re able to serve every client, with no waiting list to receive meals, said Kristi Thien, nutrition services director for the program.

Since April, Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels has produced all its own frozen meals, building a large inventory to ensure continued service throughout the prolonged Covid-19 crisis.

“We wanted to reduce our reliance on outside sources to provide nutritious meals for our clients,” Thien said. “Our seniors deserve the very best we are able to provide.”

In addition to traditional meal service, Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels also administers the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which provides eligible low-income seniors with $40 in vouchers to use at local farmers markets.

Seniors who are unable to access the markets can appoint a proxy to shop on their behalf. For an application to receive vouchers, seniors may call the Meals on Wheels office at 509-735-1911 or email [email protected].

Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels also has been hosting weekly mini-fundraisers called Midweek Motivators. Each Wednesday, supporters can donate toward the cost of two- or four-serving complete dinners. Past favorites have included lasagna, chicken satay and jambalaya. Details are available at seniorliferesources.org or on the Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels Facebook page.

Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels serves more than 20,000 meals each month to seniors throughout Benton and Franklin counties.