Much-Needed Funding Helps Keep Williamson and Burnet County Seniors and Their Pets Together
Georgetown, TX, August 2, 2018 – Opportunities for Williamson & Burnet Counties is proud to announce that Meals on Wheels of Williamson & Burnet Counties has received a $1200 grant from Meals on Wheels America to support its client pet support program. Funding will be used to provide food, supplies and care for the pets of area clients, which can often be a financial and physical challenge for clients to do so on their own.
“Having a loving companion in the home is vital to our clients’ emotional well-being, which is an important component of being able to age in place,” says Denise Schilli, Senior Nutrition Program Director. “Meals on Wheels volunteers notice when seniors give food away to their animals; choosing to share vital nutrition rather than let their pets go hungry. The assistance from Meals on Wheels of America will help support animal-loving seniors with free pet food to go with their own hot lunch, so no one goes hungry.”
In total, Meals on Wheels America has granted over $200,000 to nearly 100 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 the former Banfield Charitable Trust. To date, the grant program has distributed more than $2.4 million in funding and pet food donations. In 2017, our local grants helped Meals on Wheels of Williamson & Burnet Counties assist 58 clients with their pet food needs.
“While pets are invaluable companions to homebound seniors, positively impacting their health and well-being, they can also be a challenge to care for alone,” said Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander. “The Meals on Wheels Loves Pets program enables Meals on Wheels of Williamson & Burnet Counties to provide pet food and other necessary services to ease some of that burden and make it possible for local seniors and their beloved pets to stay together.”
As the area’s senior nutrition program, Meals on Wheels of Williamson & Burnet Counties provides consistent and healthy meals to seniors in need each day. We offer meals at select Opportunities for WBC centers as well as home-delivered meals to those whose mobility is limited – thanks in large part to our faithful volunteers.