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.
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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update outdated/non-functioning kitchen equipment to continue to serve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 kalexander@capcil.info.
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]
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