FULTON – For many area seniors Oswego County Opportunities (OCO) Home Delivered Meals program is an indispensable resource that provides them with nutritious meals and much welcomed interaction with those delivering the meals. During the harsh winter months, clients receive a little something extra, a Blizzard Bag.
The Blizzard Bags are filled with items to be enjoyed inside when the weather outside turns cold and blustery. The bags are artfully decorated by local groups and the food and treats inside can be enjoyed by the seniors to help brighten a cold, dreary day.
“We distribute approximately 500 Blizzard Bags to clients in the home delivered meals program,” said Coordinator of OCO Nutrition Services Lori Halstead. Donations and contributions from area individuals, groups, schools, and clubs and make it possible for us provide the bags. With the ever rising costs of groceries, it is a growing challenge to get enough food to put together the number of Blizzard Bags we need. This year thanks to the Alzheimer’s Association of CNY we were able to ensure that all our clients received a Blizzard Bag.”
The Alzheimer’s Association of CNY recently presented a $15,000 donation to OCO’s Nutrition Services program. The donation not only covered the costs of the Blizzard Bags, it also provided much needed funds that will benefit clients in OCO’s Home Delivered Meals program as well as those that attend OCO’s Dining and Activity Centers in Mexico, Central Square, Phoenix, Fulton, Parish and Pulaski.
OCO’s senior nutrition program is partially funded by our partners: The Oswego County Office for the Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging and the United Way of Greater Oswego.
“We are happy to be able to support the OCO Nutrition Services,” said Jessica DesRosiers, senior director of programs for the Alzheimer’s Association of CNY. “Through our education programs and our relationship with Oswego County Office of the Aging, we are very familiar with programs and services offered through OCO. However when one of our program managers told to me of OCO’s Blizzard Bag program I was astonished with how many clients are served through OCO’s Home Delivered Meals program. I decided to reach out to Lori to see how we could support the Blizzard Bag program in particular and Nutrition Services in general. The funds we provided were available in part through a bequest we recently received. It’s satisfying to see that our donation is immediately benefitting OCO and its clients. OCO is a valuable resource for Oswego County. Whatever assistance we are able to provide to OCO in the future we are willing to do.”
Located at 15 Campuswood Dr Suite 102 in East Syracuse the Alzheimer’s Association of CNY serves 14 counties in New York State stretching from the Canadian to Pennsylvania borders. The association works on a national and local level to provide care and support for caregivers and all those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. It is the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research and is committed to advancing vital research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.
To learn more about the Alzheimer Association of CNY and the many resources and services it offers, including education, support groups, and the latest information on early detection and treatment for Alzheimer’s disease visitwww.alz.org/centralnewyork or call the Alzheimer’s Association of CNY at 315-472-4201.
Cutline for photo: The Alzheimer’s Association of CNY recently presented a donation of $15,000 to Oswego County Opportunities (OCO) Nutrition Services. The funds will support OCO’s Home Delivered Meals Service, including its Blizzard Bag program that provides an emergency supply of food to clients in the event that they are unable to receive their regular meal due to inclement weather conditions. Pictured above from left are Senior Director of Programs for the Alzheimer’s Association of CNY Jessica DesRosiers; Nutrition Services Program Manager Allison Griffin; Coordinator of Nutrition Services Lori Halstead; Fund Development Coordinator Bridget Dolbear, Director of Health & Nutrition Services Leanna Cleveland; and Volunteer Manager Taylor Mielnicki. In back is President of OCO’s Board of Directors John Zanewych.
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