Council on Aging to provide ‘Blizzard Bags’

The Lake County Council on Aging is preparing for the unpredictable and often severe weather winter brings.

Along with many Northeast Ohioans, the Lake County Council on Aging is preparing for the unpredictable and often severe weather winter brings.

The Council on Aging is teaming up with all of the Lake County Senior Centers and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program to collect non-perishable food items to be placed in emergency “Blizzard Bags.”

Lake County Council on Aging Director of Community Services Nancy Niehus said the bags will be distributed to Meals on Wheels recipients for those times when storms or other events prevent a meal from being delivered by a Council on Aging volunteer this winter.

The goal is to create blizzard bags that will provide two days of shelf-stable emergency food for homebound seniors

During the week of Dec. 11-15, senior centers across the county will have collection boxes available for food drop-off, according to the news release.

Non-perishable food items such as cheese or peanut butter crackers, applesauce, fruit cups, granola bars, power bars, boxed drinks and vienna sausages with pull top openings, will be accepted. For the addresses to the senior centers, visit the Council on Aging website.

The Lake County Council on Aging is also participating in the 10th annual Subaru Share the Love Event as a member of Meals on Wheels America — one of four national Share the Love partners supported through the promotion. Until Jan. 2, Subaru of America will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to the customer’s choice of participating charity.

“For the past 10 years, Subaru of America has partnered alongside the Meals on Wheels network to deliver nutrition, companionship and comfort to our nation’s most vulnerable seniors,” said Ellie Hollander, who is the president and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “Since 2008, Subaru’s Share the Love Event has helped deliver more than 1.7 million meals to seniors served by Meals on Wheels.”

By creating the “Blizzard Bag Food Drive,” the Council on Aging will earn points toward the Share the Love campaign and will receive a share of the donations raised by Ohio Subaru dealers, the release also states.

“We are thankful to Meals on Wheels America and Subaru for all their past support of our efforts,” said Council on Aging CEO Joe Tomsick. “This year, thanks to the generous donations we will receive from community members, we will be able to ensure that our clients will have food on hand in the event that winter weather prevents the home delivery of their meal.”

“The bags will be distributed to Meals on Wheels recipients for those times when storms or other events prevent a meal from being delivered by a Council on Aging volunteer this winter.” — Lake County Council on Aging Director of Community Services Nancy Niehus