In the year ahead, United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore will provide support of critical health and job training services for hundreds of local seniors through partnership with MAC, Inc., the area agency on aging. United Way Community Impact Funding in the amount of $186,500 has been designated for the Meals on Wheels, Senior Aides Job Training and Alzheimer’s Day programs.
MAC’s Meals on Wheels program, supported by United Way since 1996, provides daily home delivered meals to seniors, enabling many to remain independent. In 2015, United Way’s funding will provide one in every three home delivered meals for over 675 individuals. In addition to delivering a nutritious meal, volunteers check on the seniors’ wellbeing and make sure they have no medical issues, providing relief to some of the anxieties that seniors have that live alone. Meals on Wheels recipient, Ronnie Tilghman notes that the program, “means so much to someone that is homebound (for over 1 ½ years) with little or no outside contact. When someone has no immediate family to depend on, having a caring person is a real advantage.”
Additional United Way funding will ensure 75 low income seniors will receive essential job training and employment opportunities within nonprofit and government agencies through the Senior Aides Job Training program and 134 individuals will receive respite support for memory-impaired seniors and their caregivers through the Alzheimer’s Day Program.
Since 1985, United Way has devoted over $3 million to improving quality of life for seniors in Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester counties of partnership with MAC, Inc.
About United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore:
Now in its 70th year, United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore continues to be largest non-governmental source of funding for 56 critical programs in Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester Counties. United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore helps Eastern Shore residents achieve educational success, income stability and good health. In 2013, United Way impacted local lives by providing over $1 million to community programs and helped over 70,000 individuals. To learn more about United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore visit www.unitedway4us.org or call 410-742-5143.
