Meals on Wheels in the upper Susitna Valley serves about 20 residents at this time. With a second vehicle recently added, the program can support double that number.
Erica Sparks, Director for the Talkeetna area Meals on Wheels, says that the program currently delivers to those residents from about Mile 91 on the Parks Highway to Talkeetna.
The new vehicle will mean expansion into the Caswell area to the south and potentially to Trapper Creek at the north end to include another 20 people.
Sparks says the program uses local restaurants to make the food, but probably won’t be able to rely on them to make all the additional meals. There will likely be several restaurants like Burger Barn and Subway that consistently provide meals, but others may be added to the rotation.
Two or three days a week, a Meals on Wheels driver will deliver meals to residents that may not be able to cook for themselves or are housebound in some way. Sparks says the program is not based on age and includes anyone who needs it.
Sparks also says that regular meal delivery means that someone will check on the residents who might not otherwise have regular contact with friends or family.
To apply for the program, residents only need to provide their name, address, phone number, and date of birth. The main requirement for delivery is that the resident be located on the road system. Meals on Wheels vehicles currently cannot deliver on trail systems.
To get more information and to apply, call Meals on Wheels at 907.203.8282.
