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Area Agency on Aging continues expanding outreach efforts despite pandemic

Posted 3/22/21

Since last March, the Area Agency on Aging funded more than 1.2 million meals to homebound seniors and over 2,100 cleaning supply kits, among other services and resources with assistance from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.

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Area Agency on Aging continues expanding outreach efforts despite pandemic

Posted

Since last March, the Area Agency on Aging funded more than 1.2 million meals to homebound seniors and over 2,100 cleaning supply kits, among other services and resources with assistance from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.

The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust recently awarded the Area Agency on Aging two grants totaling $150,000, according to a press release.

A $50,000 grant provides transportation for older adults to COVID vaccine sites and a $100,000 grant is being used to develop elderSHOP, which Area Agency staff and volunteers grocery shop for older adults who need and pay for groceries but unable to go to nearby stores.

“The funding from Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust enabled us to expand our services to assist older adults who wanted to get COVID vaccines but didn’t have the means and others who were unable or afraid to go to the supermarket. We are deeply grateful for that support,” said Area Agency on Aging President and CEO Mary Lynn Kasunic in a prepared statement.”

Ms. Kasunic said staff and volunteers “went the extra mile” to ensure essential needs in the community were covered including helping homebound seniors celebrate holidays as food bags with special ingredients and recipes were provided for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day.

“When the pandemic took hold, we knew that older adults would be particularly affected and our team reacted quickly and strategically to ensure a solid lifeline was established for those who needed our help,” she said.

Responses to needs of older adults and the community during the pandemic in the past 12 months:

  • The Agency’s 24-hour Senior HELP LINE responded to 68,939 calls, 24,500 more than during a typical year.
  • Double what the agency was doing pre-pandemic, 3,560 new clients are receiving home-delivered meals with 7,197 meals on average delivered daily.
  • Through UberHealth, 936 older adults were transported to medical appointments.
  • The agency’s AmeriCorps members and new volunteers delivered 5,790 food bags and boxes.
  • The Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) Project Haven delivered 6,874 meals to homeless seniors living in hotels.
  • The Campbell Soup Foundation provided Mom’s Meals to 40 Goodyear seniors through a grant.
  • Funded by the City of Phoenix, 2,101 cleaning supply kits were delivered to 37 senior housing sites through a program called Goods2Home.
  • Weekly telephone reassurance calls were made to 2,466 isolated older adults.

Individuals needing assistance are encouraged to call the 24-Hour Senior HELP LINE 602-264-HELP (4357) or toll free at 888-783-7500.

For more information, visit www.aaaphx.org.