A program on the Western Slope that makes sure seniors have enough food to ride out winter storms kicked into gear Monday.
Workers with Volunteers of America packed “blizzard” boxes at the Senior CommUnity Meals site in Eckert.
The packages contain non-perishable items like tuna, cereal, powdered milk and canned soup.
Al Shonk, the program's director, said the boxes have enough food for seven meals and will go to homebound elders who usually receive hot or frozen meals.
Shonk said the idea is to make sure they have enough to eat in case a winter storm prevents regular delivery.
"We are probably going to deliver about 200 boxes this year [ in] Delta County, Montrose County [and] San Miguel County, including the West End.," Shonk said.
He said many people rely on VOA’s regular meal service.
"There’s a lot of seniors out there that without this program they would not be able to have nutritious meals all of the time. We don’t do it five days a week because we can’t but those three days a week we do it is immensely important to them."
Last year, the program gave out about 75,000 meals to area residents.
"Fortunately, most of our deliveries are made by volunteers," Shonk said. "We couldn’t do what we do without them."
Volunteers will deliver the food boxes this week.
