Senior Meal Programs
Congregate Meal Program Any Senior (60 years or older) may be eligible for Congregate Meals.  Congregate Sites offer nutritional information, fun activities, and the opportunity to meet and make friends.  Most sites are open Monday through Friday.  Fresh, hot meals are prepared and delivered to each site.  Reservations are required to ensure a meal.	Home Delivered Meals Seniors (60 years or older) who are homebound may be eligible for home delivered meals.  Seniors who receive meals at home are not able to leave their home due to a short or long-term health, emotional, or physical condition.  Often seniors on home delivery live alone and are not able to prepare a meal.  Eligibility to receive home delivered meals is reviewed quarterly by the Eligibility Speicalist.  The Specialist visits the senior at home at least two times per year.  Individually packaged meals are delivered to homebound seniors' homes.
Congregate Sites Witmer Hall, Modesto Mancini Hall, Modesto Senior Center, Modesto (M, W, Th) Ralston Tower, Modesto* Marple Manor, Modesto* (T, W, Th) Hughson Senior Center Whitmer Hall, Ceres Glady's Lemon Center, Oakdale Patterson Senior Center Waterford Community Center Community Center, Grayson McConnel Senior Center, Newman Salvation Army, Turlock *For residents and their guest only	Senior Meal Programs Menus are developed by a Registered Dietician especially for seniors Meals are free to seniors A $2.00 donation is suggested for each meal.  The donation is used to provide more meals for seniors Arc Catering provides the meals for Congregate and Home Delivered Meals Call 209-593-5633 for information about the Senior Meal Programs. (Se Habla Espanol)
Senior Meals Program Awarded Grant from Meals On  Wheels Association of America and Wal-Mart Foundation to Cure Senior Hunger Grant given at a time when program is struggling to feed Stanislaus County’s seniors February 19, 2009, Modesto, CA– Senior Meals has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) and the Wal-Mart Foundation to support our local program in doing what we do best - feed seniors.  This past year, many Meals On Wheels programs were forced to change or reduce their services because of severe operating constraints brought on by rising food and gas prices and the current economic crisis.  The “MOWAA/Wal-Mart Foundation Cure Grant” is intended to alleviate these burdens for Senior Meals and help us restore our nutrition services to better serve our seniors in Stanislaus County.   “In 2008, so many Stanislaus County seniors requested assistance that we had to create a waiting list for meals,” said Claudia Miller, Executive Director of Howard Training Center. “This grant will help to fill that gap, but as the economy continues to decline, we anticipate a greater need in 2009.” According to a groundbreaking national research study entitled “The Causes, Consequences and Future of Senior Hunger in America,” which was commissioned by the MOWAA Foundation, 1 in 9 seniors in America is at risk of hunger. The fact that 11.4 percent of seniors in the country are at risk of hunger and the fact that the population is aging at an unprecedented rate put a significant strain on community-based Meals On Wheels programs’ ability to provide meals for those in need.   The "MOWAA/Wal-Mart Foundation Cure Grant Program" is intended to increase the number of individuals served and reverse the forced reduction in meal services seen at Meals On Wheels programs throughout the nation. "Unlike cancer or AIDS, we have the cure to end senior hunger in America today," said Enid Borden, President and CEO of MOWAA.  "We can't thank the Wal-Mart Foundation enough for supporting us in our mission and remembering the seniors we serve during this desperate time.  "Howard Training Center, a non-profit organization located in Modesto, offers congregate meals and home delivery through its Senior Meals Program. Fresh, hot meals are prepared and delivered daily to seniors at 12 sites throughout Stanislaus County. Seniors who are housebound, unable to drive or live alone are eligible for home delivered meals. For more information about the Senior Meal programs and programming for adults with disabilities, please call (209) 593-5615 or visit www.howardtrainingcenter.com. The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the oldest and largest national organization in the United States representing those programs that provide meals to people in need. To obtain more information about MOWAA or to locate a local Meals On Wheels program, visit the MOWAA website at www.mowaa.org. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability and health and wellness. In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.	Senior Meals Program Feeds the Spirit December, 2009, Modesto, CA - It’s early morning and kitchen crew at HTC’s Arc Catering prepare and package meals; load them into the appropriate van for transportation staff to deliver to the thirteen congregate senior meals sites administered by Howard Training Center. Meanwhile, site managers at senior meal locations are setting the scene for more than a warm meal.   “We have activities that bring seniors together,” states HTC Senior Meals Coordinator Misty Ridenour. “It gives them a chance to get out and about, meet other seniors, to socialize and have a nutritious meal.” In fact some sites have become beacons of social activity to the seniors in their communities.  Turlock Senior Meals Site Manager Nancy Ramos brings a scrapbook to share with her seniors, showing the good times they’ve shared. Nancy decorates her site with dollar store items, dons themed costumes, plays music, and organizes dancing. She has a base of loyal CSU Stanislaus student volunteers to lend a helping hand and keep the spirit glowing at her site.  “Only 10 to 20 people were coming to the site in mid 2007. With Nancy’s special brand of enthusiasm and shared activity, we are serving between 30 and 40 seniors regularly,” adds Ridenour. Patterson site serves up to 70 meals some days. Hughson senior meal site hosts a Bingo game that draws a loyal following on Fridays. Recently established Riverbank site has activity in the works and supportive volunteers. Young At Heart senior aerobics sessions occur at Waterford and Oakdale sites. Board games, dominos, bingo, are a sampling of the offerings site managers may serve to fuel the spirits of their diners.