Shelf-stable meals for seniors to be distributed today

The Carson City Senior Citizens Center will distribute shelf-stable emergency meals for seniors from 12:30-3:30 p.m. today at the senior center, 911 Beverly Drive.

The center also has cases of Ensure to distribute to seniors who are nutritionally compromised.

Only about half the people who qualify to receive the meals have come in to get them during the previous five distributions, Marlene Allbritten, grant coordinator at the center, said based on previous research used to order the meals.

The only requirement to receive a one-time distribution is to be 60 or older or the spouse of a qualified senior, she said.

Those who are not already registered at the Carson City Senior Citizens Center may be asked to fill out a simple form.

"People aren't responding and I'm finding the reason that they aren't responding is that they feel they aren't qualified because they aren't low-income," she said. "We still have more meals and we want to be sure they're distributed."

The center is now distributing 12 meals per person. Those who received 10 meals during previous distributions can come in and receive two more.

In addition, the senior center staff is working with volunteers and Meals On Wheels to distribute the emergency meals to homebound seniors at Southgate Apartments and Comstock Mobile Home Park.

"Some of the volunteers here are going to go out and deliver to people who can't get out themselves," Allbritten said. It may take time to arrange delivery, but "we'll do something."

The meals, which can be stored without refrigeration for two years and do not have to be heated (but taste better hot), were purchased with a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Meals include chicken and dumplings, spaghetti and meatballs, beef stew, beverage and dessert. They can provide a nutritous meal during emergencies, such as power outages or illness, when it's difficult for seniors to get out to the store.

The meals will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis while the supply lasts.

For more information, or to request meals be delivered, contact the center at 883-0703.