The James Valley Community Center has found a way to keep the season of giving alive amid the pandemic with the snowflake hunger program.
Hanging on the drive-up window of the James Valley Community Center (JVCC) are snowflakes with the names of seniors who are in need of donations to afford nutritious meals this holiday season.
In past years, the JVCC would set up a Christmas tree in the lobby area that would have ornaments with the names of the seniors who are in need of donations to afford a JVCC meal punch card. However, Mitchell Community Services Director Jessica Pickett said COVID-19 prompted her to turn to a safer method of giving this year, which led to the decision of doing away with the hunger tree and turning to the hunger snowflakes.
“With the pandemic, it is becoming more important for people to be healthier and eat right, along with exercising,” Pickett said. “With less and less people coming inside due to COVID-19, we decided to utilize our drive-up window and put the names on snowflakes. This is a way to provide those seniors who really need a healthy, nutritious meal get that nutrition.”
This year, Pickett said there are 93 seniors aged 60 and over who are in need of donations. To donate, one can either exchange money at the drive-up window and choose a name on a snowflake or make arrangements with JVCC staff. While there is no limit or maximum donation amount, Pickett said this year’s donation goal is set at $7,440, which would provide a meal punch card to all of the 93 seniors.
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As of now, the donations have provided meal punch cards to 53 seniors who have a snowflake on the window. Pickett said the JVCC is $3,130 shy of reaching the goal to provide all 93 seniors with a punch card.
“A punch card comes with 20 meals that meets the daily required intake such as their breads, meats, vegetables and starch. With these meals, they are getting the nutrients they need at an affordable cost,” Pickett said.
The number of seniors who are in need of donations to afford a meal punch card is higher this year compared to previous years, Pickett noted. She pointed to the economic impacts of the pandemic as a major factor for the increase.
Although the JVCC has yet to reach their donation goal, Pickett said she’s proud of the community for continuing to show their support for those in need.
“I think we have a very giving and caring community, and they want to help their neighbors,” Pickett said. “Especially during the holidays, it is just awesome to see people step up and help when people are in need the most.”
