Hanover Township receives $35,000 in grant funding for seniors
The Hanover Township Department of Aging Services recently received $35,000 in grant funding from AgeOptions to support the township's transportation and meal services for older adults.
"No segment of our population was more negatively affected by COVID-19 than our township seniors," said Brian P. McGuire, Hanover Township supervisor. "This funding will help us greatly in meeting the increase in our meal program areas as people adapted to the pandemic and to our transportation services, that have experienced a rise in costs for parts, supplies and repairs over the last several years."
The agency awarded $15,000 for the township's Home Delivered Meal Program to address workforce challenges, socialization needs of homebound program participants, and equipment upgrades and purchases related to prolonged high volume due to the pandemic. In 2022, the township added a seventh delivery route to accommodate increased demand. The program currently serves 100-120 people daily. All meals are delivered by volunteers and are served hot and ready-to-eat. In FY23, volunteers delivered 35,591 meals to homebound residents - a 10% increase from FY22.
The township received $10,000 for transportation needs for seniors. Funds will be directed to repairs for buses and leases or purchases. During the pandemic, supply chain and manufacturing issues caused prices to increase dramatically for maintenance. Township buses provide transportation for residents 55 and older as well as individuals with a disability for dialysis treatments, medical appointments, grocery shopping and other personal errands.
The Stars N Stripes Café, the township's congregate meal program located in the Senior Center, received $10,000 to address workforce and recruitment challenges, diversity/equity/inclusion initiatives, and re-engagement of participants to increase in-person dining. During the pandemic, the café switched to "to go" meals to accommodate people's preferences and comply with directives from the state. The Senior Center café serves approximately 70-200 people per day. In FY23, 19,770 meals were served in the café, a 41% increase over FY22.
AgeOptions is a nonprofit organization connecting older adults and those who care for them with resources and service options. As the Area Agency on Aging of suburban Cook County, the organization advocates, plans, coordinates, and funds services for older adults.
For more information on the township's transportation or meal services, please call the Hanover Township Senior Center at (630) 483-5600 or contact info@hanover-township.org.