NEWS RELEASE                                   

Contact: Kathy Beisner (302) 697-4333 or (302) 270-5767

 

 

USDA AND SHORE UP! BRING NEW MEANING TO ‘COOKING WITH GAS’

 

Salisbury , MD January 7, 2004 – SHORE UP! Inc. has been delivering meals to home bound seniors since 1965, and with the help of a USDA Rural Development grant in the amount of $23,700 they will be steering meals to the elderly in Wicomico County for many years to come.  USDA Rural Development provided a Community Facilities Grant that helped SHORE UP! purchase a 2003 Ford van that was customized to allow for refrigerated and heated compartments.  On hand to participate in the announcement of the federal funds was Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest, (R-Maryland-1st). "There is a real need in this community for these kinds of services, and SHORE UP! is making a difference in the lives of so many seniors," Gilchrest said. "I'm pleased that USDA Rural Development is supporting this effort, and I'm honored to be able to help out today, meet some of the folks who benefit from this service, and thank the people involved."

 

The new van is used to transport a portion of the 120 meals that are prepared each day.   “On behalf of the Bush Administration, Rural Development is returning taxpayer dollars to local communities that will help improve the quality of life.  SHORE UP! is a catalyst for developing solutions that impact the lives of lower income people and their communities and Rural Development is pleased to be a part of their home delivery meal project that touches over 200 seniors in Wicomico County ,” said Elliott.

 

From Sharptown to Willards to Fruitland to Mardela Springs, the meals on wheels project helps provide nourishment to many seniors who live alone and are no longer able to drive or cook for themselves.  Meals are delivered Monday through Friday and the meal delivery trips cover distances of up to 45 miles and average 2 hours from the time the food is loaded in the van until the last customer is served a meal.  “Maintaining a safe food temperature has always been important to us and was difficult over long periods of time.  With the purchase of a second van that is equipped with both a heating and cooling unit, we can guarantee the best meal possible for our seniors,” said Freddy Mitchell, SHORE UP! Inc. Executive Director.  Shore Up! is currently transporting meals in three vehicles, two are equipped with refrigeration and oven units that are used for long meal runs, and the third vehicle transports food locally to seniors in insulated bags. 

 

“Not all of our customers receive meals every day,” said Marilyn Long, Administrator for Health Care and Senior Citizen Services. “Some are signed up to receive meals Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and others only Tuesday and Thursday.  90% of our meals on wheels customers are over age 64.  We expect the need for home delivered meals to grow with the increase in the elderly population in Wicomico County .”  Current Census data shows that 16% of the County’s population is age 60 or older.

   

  The USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Grant helped pay for 75% of the van.  The program has loans and limited grant dollars available to help rural communities, with a population of 20,000 or less, obtain essential services or facilities that serve the public.  The current interest rate for a loan is 4.50%.   Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations and public bodies.  Further information and help in preparing an application are available at the Maryland/Delaware Rural Development office at (302) 697-4324.  TTY users should call (302) 697-4303.  Information on all the programs offered by Rural Development can be obtained by visiting their website at www.rurdev.usda.gov.  To contact SHORE UP! call (410) 749-1142.         

 

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