Meals on Wheels now serving Head Start families
Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet Counties may have closed its congregate sites in Marble Falls and Burnet, but it’s still delivering food through Meals on Wheels. Starting Monday, April 6, the organization is providing food to its Head Start families as well.
A stay-at-home order for Burnet and Williamson counties has not stopped the local Meals on Wheels program from rolling on to make sure its clients get fed. Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet Counties has even expanded its services to help Head Start families. Head Start and Early Head Start are early education programs provided for qualified families.
The organization will begin providing boxed or sacked meals for those families beginning Monday, April 6. OWBC and Head Start staff are contacting families directly to tell them when and where they can pick up the meals. The sacks will including breakfast, lunch and a snack.
On April 2, Meals On Wheels began delivering two weeks worth of food with half of it frozen and the other half shelf stable to its home-bound clients, said Sunny Hall, the Burnet County site manager.
The change was made after Texas Governor Greg Abbott sign an executive order that closed restaurant dining rooms around the state to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). As a result, OWBC officials chose to close the congregate sites in Burnet and Marble Falls where attendees could gather for meals and fellowship.
“A couple of weeks ago, we had to do something quick,” Hall said. “We’re trying to limit exposure.”
The program feeds about 230 people with meals that follow the guidelines for nutrition set by the government. The organization is now adding some frozen meals as well so the recipients get more than just packaged foods.
Hall noted that for some of the Meals on Wheels clients, the volunteer or staff member bringing their food may be the only personal interaction they get.
“The gratitude has been amazing,” Hall said. “If we’re not delivering, then we’re calling them to see how they’re doing and for wellness checks.”
Meals on Wheels is for individuals 60 and older with other qualifications. Anyone who believes they qualify or knows someone who might should call (512) 715-9717.
For more on how COVID-19 is affecting the Highland Lakes, visit the DailyTrib.com coronavirus resources webpage.
jfierro@thepicayune.com