TAMA NEWS-HERALD

Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging will be participating again in Mayors for Meals Day as part of its March for Meals campaign.

Tama Mayor Chris Bearden, Toledo Mayor Pamela Wood and Montour Mayor Susan Holubar will join over 1,000 mayors across the country to participate in the event to show their support for the older people in the community. “We are excited about having Mayor Bearden, Mayor Wood and Mayor Holubar participate in our event,” said Sally Myers, Associate Director of Program Services for Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging. “We hope that by raising awareness of our program no older person will go hungry.”

In a study conducted by the University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research and the Iowa State University, it was found that from 2001 to 2005 over 5 million people over the age of 60 11.4 percent of all older people experienced some form of food insecurity. Of these, about 2.5 million were at-risk of hunger. The study also found that hunger issues were present in both urban and metropolitan areas, in all demographic groups and cut across the income spectrum.

Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging offers both congregate and home delivered meals to people age 60 and over on a contribution basis. If you would like more information about Hawkeye Valley’s meal program, call the Senior Help Line toll free at 877-538-0508. If you would like to volunteer to help deliver meals, please call the Toledo Community Center at 641-484-3839.

HVAAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation serving elders in Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw, Grundy, Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek and Tama counties. HVAAA coordinates services for people ages 60 and older and their caregivers to maintain the independence they desire. Some of the services provided by HVAAA include home delivered meals, caregiver support and respite services, case management services, congregate meals, public information and education, Senior Helpline, and advocacy.