The Soldotna Senior Center celebrated the purchase of two new Meals on Wheels vehicles to help with delivered meals thanks to ARPA funds.
Loretta Spalding, Executive Director of the Soldotna Senior Center told KSRM:
“Well Meals on Wheels is one of our really main programs with our congregate meals that people come into the center for. We serve about 2,200 meals a month in the community. Our cars were starting to get pretty old and worn out. We got a chance to have a grant through ARPA. We got a large sum of money and we decided to buy new vehicles with that so that we can continue our Meals on Wheels program and provide transportation to people that need it.”
Spalding speaks on how they secured the ARPA grant funding:
“Actually, one of the reasons I got hired here is because I’m a grant writer. I actually have been able to receive over $280,000 in grant funding since I started a year ago. Then, ARPA was a big surprise because we had no idea it was coming and we want to thank the governor and the legislature because this was money that was funneled through COVID relief funds, but they let it come out to nonprofits and we were able to take advantage of it.”
On hand Friday evening was Alaska’s Gov. Mike Dunleavy:
“It’s an honor to be here and I always say that my favorite folks are little kids and our seniors. I just appreciate having conversations with our seniors. I used to talk often to my uncles, my grandparents, and just spend hours with them talking about what was life like during the Depression in the 1930s and 40s and so forth. I just appreciate you and, again, it’s an honor just to be here with you and spend a little time with you.”
Spalding says that home delivered meals are still available to all eligible senior citizens in the Soldotna, Ridgeway, and Funny River communities. The meals are provided seven days a week at no cost to them.