HOLYOKE — Delaney’s Market will begin providing meals for WestMass ElderCare’s Senior Nutrition Program, which includes both home-delivered meals and Community Table sites, in a partnership of local groups that began on Oct. 1.
Each day, WMEC’s Senior Nutrition Program serves an average of 1,200 meals to older adults and individuals with disabilities across Holyoke, Chicopee, South Hadley, Granby, Ware and Ludlow. The new partnership will enhance their ability to provide nutritious meals that align with their mission to support the health, independence and quality of life of those served.
“We are incredibly excited to contract with Delaney’s Market,” said Sarah Aasheim, director of Community Programs at WMEC. “Partnering with such a well-known and respected local business means our consumers will benefit from high-quality, locally-sourced meals, while we continue to support their health and well-being.”
Owner of Delaney’s Market Peter Rosskothen was the former co-owner and manager at the Log Cabin and Delaney House restaurant shared his enthusiasm for the new partnership.
“Delaney’s Market is proud to work with WestMass ElderCare in serving our community. We look forward to bringing our best to the table, ensuring that each meal is prepared with care and attention to detail,” said Rosskothen.
Aasheim added all meals provided through this partnership will continue to adhere to the nutrition and portion guidelines set forth by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, ensuring that consumers receive well-balanced, healthy meals tailored to their needs.
Aasheim said Delaney’s Market scored high in their evaluations of bidders for the partnership and added the local element provided a unique opportunity for community groups to come together for these services.
“I think their proximity geographically was part of it because they can be there in real time and problem solve when there’s something that comes up in the operation,” said Aasheim. “Invariably it does. With the food production operation there’s always going to be some troubleshooting that seems to happen and part of the strength of their application was they’re right here and they’re right down the road from us.”
Aasheim added it was a great advantage for WMEC to be partnering with a local company that’s invested in Western Mass.
WMEC’s home-delivered meals offer more than just nourishment as they also create vital social interaction, safety and peace of mind for caregivers who are unable to be with their loved ones. Drivers perform daily wellness checks as part of the meal drop of, ensuring that no meal is delivered without meaningful interaction.
“This is like a life saver for the individuals who receive the meals but also for the caregivers,” Aasheim said.
For those who live alone, the driver may be the only person the consumer sees throughout the day, providing a critical lifeline of support and connection — as well as peace of mind for caregivers.
“It sounds like kind of a marketing gimmick but it’s really, really true: It’s much more than just a meal and nutrition. It’s safety, it’s peace of mind for caregivers,” Aasheim said.
WMEC’s Community Table sites, located at Granby and South Hadley Senior Centers as well as housing locations in Chicopee, Holyoke, South Hadley and Ludlow, offer a welcoming environment where older adults and residents can enjoy a meal together. Asheim said this environment fosters social connections and community engagement that is a crucial part of their mission on top of making sure people have access to meals of nutritional value.
“I think the real strength of the model is it enables people who have the ability to get to a central location and gives them a chance to get out of their homes and connect to other folks,” Aasheim said. “That’s a real risk of aging, even when people who have strong relationships over time, people tend to get very isolated in their retirement years and so this is kind of a mechanism to get people together.”
WMEC is committed to enhancing the lives of those served through programs that promote independence and wellness. If interested in learning more about qualifications for meal services WMEC encourages calling 413-538-9020 to learn more and sign up.
