Hundreds of elderly Northeast Kingdom residents are receiving emergency blizzard bags of shelf-stable food and beverages through a partnership involving the NEK Council on Aging, Passumpsic Bank, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, and North Country Hospital.
Each bag contains a one-day supply of emergency food and drink. The bags go to recipients of the NEK Council on Aging's home-delivered meal program.
The program began in 2017 when the council's existing emergency food bag program faced budget cuts. This year, food and beverages were shipped to two packing locations: the Cornucopia meal site in Derby and the NEK Council on Aging office in St. Johnsbury. Volunteers packed about 300 bags at each site. Eleven volunteers helped, and the packed bags went to 14 senior meal sites that partner with the council.
The program has grown to include North Country Hospital and meal site partners in the northern part of the region.
“We are so grateful for the Blizzard Bag program expanding again this year, to include more bags for seniors in need of food,” said Wendy Franklin, director of communications and foundation at North Country Hospital. “Many hands make small work, and this is all possible through our collaboration with the NEK Council on Aging, Passumpsic Bank, and NVRH.”
Originally reported by Newport Dispatch.
Photo: Aurora Oak via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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