Much-needed Funding Helps Keep Clearfield County Area Seniors and Their Pets Together
CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc. is proud to announce that it has received a $1,500 grant from Meals on Wheels America to support its client pet support program.
Funding will be used to provide food, supplies and care for area clients with pets, all of which can be financially and physically burdensome.
“Keeping seniors and pets together can have a profound effect on the health of a senior, “stated Kathy Gillespie, Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc. chief executive officer. “Pets love unconditionally and are there to offer companionship and love to their owners.”
In total, Meals on Wheels America has granted $300,000 to 193 local Meals on Wheels programs through the Meals on Wheels Loves Pets initiative this year.
Funding is made possible in part through a donation from Banfield Charitable Trust (BCT). To date, the grant program has distributed more than $2.4 million in funding and pet food donations.
“While the benefits of companionship are clear, taking care of a pet can be financially and physically challenging for seniors,” said Meals on Wheels America President and Chief Executive Officer Ellie Hollander.
“Meals on Wheels Loves Pets helps local Meals on Wheels providers alleviate this hardship and at the same time reduce the negative effects of isolation.”
The Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc. is a charitable, non-profit corporation dedicated to providing a comprehensive array of the highest quality health and human services to residents of Clearfield County.
Its staff will accomplish this mission by committing to its guiding principles of Integrity, Coordinated Community Partnerships, Best Service, Progressive Attitudes, Professionalism and Teamwork and Investment in our Employees and Volunteers.
Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger.
This network exists in virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity.
By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
Programs and services of the Agency are funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc., Mature Resources Foundation and local and consumer contributions.
