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Crawford County ADRC home delivered meals up 59 percent

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By Ted Pennekamp

 

The Crawford County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) has done quite well in the face of the COVID pandemic regarding its nutrition program. In fact, a whopping 59 percent more meals were delivered from October of 2019 through September of 2020, than from October of 2018 through September of 2019. 

According to statistics provided by Crawford County ADRC Director Roby Fuller, there were 15,743 home delivered meals from October of 2018 to September of 2019 and 25,088 for the same span in 2019-2020.

Fuller said there was an increase in funding in 2020 for the nutrition program due to federal COVID relief money. In addition, more county residents were eligible for home delivered meals because the rules were changed to allow anyone 60 and over to qualify. Previously, only homebound people over 60 qualified. In addition, carryouts were allowed.

“We had in increase in requested meals,” said Fuller, who also noted that due to the pandemic, the three meal sites of Prairie Maison in Prairie du Chien, Desperados Wonder Bar and Restaurant of Soldiers Grove and the Methodist Church in Eastman were closed in the middle of March, however, regarding home delivered meals for ADRC qualified residents.

To make up for it, Desperados converted to  carryouts in March, Leisure Time Sports Bowl and Banquet of Prairie du Chien began offering carryouts in May and Boondocks of Wauzeka started offering carryouts in September for ADRC qualified residents, said Fuller.

“Carryouts were not allowed previously,” said Fuller. “COVID was new and we had to be innovative. It’s been pretty successful statewide.” Carryout meals are considered to be home delivered meals.

Fuller said the ADRC meals are delivered by ADRC staff or, of course, people can go to one of the meal sites and pick up their carryouts. There is a donation request of $3.50 per meal, but people can give what they can afford.

Fuller noted there is a registered dietician on the ADRC staff who reviews the meals to make sure they are healthy and nutritious.

Home delivered ADRC meals went up 35 percent statewide, not including Milwaukee. In Richland County, home delivered meals increased 18 percent. In Juneau County, they increased 63 percent. The increase in Sauk County was 20 percent.

These numbers are for home delivered meals/carryouts. They don’t reflect congregate meals. Congregate meal sites were places that individuals gathered for a meal served at a specific time for sitting down and dining in.

The ADRC Nutrition Program is paid for through Older American Act (OAA) Title 3 funds, and is also budgeted for in the Crawford County budget. Fuller explained that in 2019, the Crawford County ADRC received $17,970 in OAA money to operate home delivered meals. An 11 percent match is required of the county tax levy. In 2020, the county received $82,741 for home delivered meals. The large increase was due to most of the congregate meal money going to home delivered meals following the closure of the three meal sites in March. An 11 percent match was also required of the county levy. In addition, the Crawford County ADRC received $52,349 for home delivered meals through the federal CARES Act.

For more information about ADRC home delivered meals, people can call (608) 326-0235.

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