Linked below is a video created by the Johnson County Public Information Office regarding today’s CARES-funded Food Care Package for Older Adults project.

https://youtu.be/Fwkyle_ehj4

Older adults living in seven subsidized senior living facilities throughout Johnson County are receiving boxes filled with $100 worth of Hy-Vee groceries today.  The groceries are courtesy of the Federal COVID-19 Relief fund and made available from Johnson County’s Aging and Human Services Department. The care package is targeted to assist older adults in need living in Johnson County, to make their life a little easier and help them remain safe and healthy during this period.

Area Agency on Aging Director Dan Goodman led this project, coordinated with the assistance of Aging Program Services Manager Angela Pelger, Stephany Ikpe, Nutrition Program Manager, Dyani Kallauner, Nutrition Program Coordinator, and support staff.  Staff were able to reach an agreement with our local Hy-Vee, to provide up to 670 older adults with these  food care packages.

Hy-Vee agreed to deliver all  food care packages throughout the County free of charge. These packages are being delivered today to various subsidized senior high-rises throughout Johnson County.  Hy-Vee offered the Aging and Human Services Department a price break on various products in order to maximize the purchasing power of the order. 

Stephany and Dyani  compiled a list of shelf stable nutritious foods in order to build the items purchased for each package. Stephany made sure that the items being purchased would be appropriate for the diet of a typical older adult .

Angela worked to identify subsidized senior living housing around the County,  specifically those that have an employee at each complex that would agree to coordinate the distribution of packages to the residents.  With Angela’s assistance we were able to get the numbers of clients in each program identified and secure the support of the facility’s staff.