During the current Stay Home Stay Safe order, some seniors are wondering where their next meal will come from now that their usual resources are closed. Many of the vital local systems older adults have relied on for food and consistent nourishment have been put on temporary pause, leaving many seniors with limited options.
Recently, the State of Michigan purchased Quarantine Boxes, also known as “Q Boxes,” for the Area Agency on Aging network of Michigan to help provide relief for seniors in need of shelf-stable food. 300 of those boxes have been designated for seniors in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties.
The boxes contain thirty-three well-balanced, high protein, food items and can provide 22 adult meals. Each box contains breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipe options for the contents in the box. They will be available for seniors (60+) in need of shelf-stable food in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties.
United Way of Southwest Michigan and Area Agency on Aging need volunteers to distribute these Q Boxes to seniors. Seniors will arrive at 2015 Lakeview Avenue in St. Joseph and volunteers are needed to verify information and to put the Q Box into the seniors' trunk for a contact-less distribution.
