- Last Updated on Friday, 28 August 2015 20:10
Grant will fund upgrades to delivery vehicles for Allegheny County seniors
Local seniors will benefit from improved Meals on Wheels service thanks to a grant from the Walmart Foundation.
LifeSpan, Inc. will use the $50,000 donation in support of its Meals on Wheels/Home Delivered Meals (MOW/HDM) Program. The funds will enable LifeSpan to purchase a Ford F-150 with conversions completed by Delivery Concepts adding oven and refrigeration units to keep meals both hot and cold for extended time on meal delivery routes.
“We work every day to serve seniors across Allegheny County and this new truck will multiply our capability to help. We are very grateful to the Walmart Foundation for standing with us in support of our community,” said Virginia Jurofcik, LIFESPAN CEO.
In 2013, the MOW/HDM program raised the bar and has become more than just a meal delivery program. It is now a prevention program with delivery staff monitoring and conveying change-in condition notices as well as the implementation of a new program providing managed care through partnerships with local hospitals and insurance providers to prevent unplanned hospital admissions and unnecessary hospital readmissions through proper nutrition.
“One of our company’s top goals is to win the fight against hunger, especially in the communities where our associates live and work. We are proud to support LifeSpan and its passionate work on behalf of the needy here in the Pittsburgh region,” said Jason Klipa, Walmart Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations in Pennsylvania.
LifeSpan currently serves approximately 600 homebound participants through its kitchens in Homestead, Clairton, Bridgeville and Knoxville, delivering over 140,000 meals annually.