CAPCIL Kitchen to Kitchen starts this month
Agency offers new meal delivery program for those who fall outside the guidelines of the Senior Nutrition program

[June 06, 2017]  LINCOLN - The Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois will expand meal delivery service to those that do not qualify for the Senior Meals on Wheels program with the new Kitchen to Kitchen program.

CAPCIL has been administering the Senior Meals on Wheels program for 45 years to individuals who fit the grant guidelines (individuals over the age of 60 and homebound) and who reside in Logan and Mason Counties. Within the past 3 years, with new leadership and direction, this program has gone from running in the red to the black. Menu planning, exact ingredient measurements, excellent volunteers, and a new mobile food truck have been some of the factors that have led to program stability.

As the success of the program increased, CAPCIL noticed an increase of individuals who requested meal delivery service that did not fit into the Senior Meals on Wheels grant requirements. These individuals were under the age of 60 who were either temporarily or permanently homebound, had a chronic illness, or were a special population such as Veterans, disabled, or had dietary restrictions. The need became so great the idea of the Kitchen to Kitchen Program was born.

The Kitchen to Kitchen Program is an extension of the Senior Meals on Wheels Program but is available to the individuals who fall outside of the grant guidelines (under the age of 60) as well as individuals who live in the other four Counties that CAPCIL provides services (Fulton, Menard, DeWitt, and Piatt). CAPCIL’s goal is to begin offering services in June 2017 with the initial pilot group in Logan, Mason, and DeWitt Counties.

Within 18 months, CAPCIL plans on serving an average of 250 additional meals per day through this new program. All meals will only cost $8, which includes the cost of delivery. CAPCIL is researching for additional grant funding to help reduce the cost to those who have limited income. A special thank you to the Woods and Bates Foundation for their continued support and making it possible for CAPCIL to update outdated/non-functioning kitchen equipment to continue to serve customers.

Individuals interested in more information, monetarily supporting the program, or volunteering can call CAPCIL at 217-732-2159, visit their website at www.capcil.info, or email Katie Alexander at [e-mail].

It is the mission of CAPCIL, in partnership with communities in our service area, to empower persons with low income and the aged by creating and implementing poverty-fighting initiatives for those in crisis and those that endeavor a life of lasting independence.

[Katie Alexander
Director of Agency Development
Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois]