Volunteers step up to the plate so needy seniors can fill theirs

A group of food delivery volunteers who helped out feeding needy seniors. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - A group of community-focused volunteers stepped up to help support the Rochester Housing Authority's food delivery program earlier this month.

Members of Woven Community Development and SOS Recovery Community Organization were among a large group that volunteered on March 5 to bring food to seniors in need.

What started as an effort to provide food to just three people evolved with the growth in volunteerism enabling participating groups to serve more than 100 people.

The Food Commodity Delivery is a collaborative effort among RHA volunteers, Goodwin Community Health, The Food Commodity Program, Woven CDA, SOSRCO, and the Commons Church. The Food Commodity Program is administered by the federal government.

The volunteers included a boy under the age of 5, who pitched in by placing flyers into boxes delivered to recipients. In all, volunteers delivered 150 boxes containing food like pasta, cereal, canned meats and soups along with other nonperishables.

"Our community is blessed by these folks with big hearts who gave a few hours on a Tuesday morning to help those living on the margins," Woven Executive Director Leah Roth said. "Many of our seniors live on tight budgets and this program helps them make ends meet."

The deliveries take place on the first Tuesday morning of every other month, with the next delivery taking place on May 7.

For more info about Woven go to wovencity.org.

Those interested in signing up to receive deliveries can call the Rochester Housing Authority and ask for John Kennedy to learn about eligibility.