Essential Nutrition Delivered To Seniors …And Their Pets

For more information contact:
Jerry Baldoz, Director
Yakima County Senior Nutrition
jerry.baldoz@co.yakima.wa.us
509-574-2200

Acme created a partnership with Yakima County’s Senior Nutrition program to provide a much needed service to the senior citizens of Yakima County. Beginning April, 2009, the County Meals-On Wheels Programwill deliver pet food along with senior’s meals.

It’s A Fact: Some seniors do without food and medications to feed their cats and dogs.

For many of our home-bound seniors, a pet is their only companion – the only barrier between chilling loneliness and serious depression. Everyone is affected by today’s uncertain economy, but none are hit harder than seniors on a fixed income or meager pension. All too often, america’s senior citizens are making harsh, sometimes life threatening, decisions on how to budget their cash. We’ve all heard the stories of the elderly woman who “shares” her nutritiously balanced “meals on wheels” meal with her dog. Or the senior gentleman who no longer takes his blood-pressure medicine so he can feed his cat.

Here’s how it works:

• Yakima County Senior Nutrition program (Meals-On-Wheels) staff will survey current “Meals on Wheels” recipients to identify needy dogs and cats.
• Donated dog and cat food will be collected at Acme, 1008 W. Ahtanum Road, Union Gap.
• Volunteers will package the food into two-week portions and the Meals-On-Wheels program will deliver the pet food when they deliver the senior’s meals.
• No Senior Nutrition Program funds can or will be used for this project: “Meals-on-Wheels for Pets” is operated entirely on donations and volunteer efforts.

Here’s how you can help

• Help Spread The Word! Tell family and friends about Meals-For-Pets and the need for donations.
• When shopping, buy one or more bags of your favorite pet food to donate.
• Drop off dog and cat food (or cash donations) to Acme, 1008 W. Ahtanum Rd, Union Gap.

Contact Bryan, Wendy or Erin at 509-574-4008 to arrange a time to drop off your donation.