Agency on Aging seeks donations from 4-H and FFA Livestock sale to bolster meals on wheels

The Flathead County Agency on Aging is looking to obtain 10 steers and 10 hogs from the 4-H and FFA Livestock Sale for its Meals on Wheels Program.  

“Our program, especially Meals on Wheels, is now facing daunting financial challenges. The alarming rise in food and employment costs threaten our ability to maintain current service levels. Since early 2020, our monthly meals have increased from 6,500 to 9,900,” a release by the agency reads.  

Meals on Wheels delivers hot meals to seniors five days a week. Lunchtime meals are available at senior and community centers throughout the county as well. Last year, AOA estimated they served 119,126 meals.  

“We need the support now more than ever for Meals on Wheels given the drastic increase in the cost of food, especially protein, along with the exponential increase in need for home-delivered meals to support homebound seniors, next to the reality that the federal and state funding we receive for the program hasn’t kept pace,” Carla Dyment, Director of the Flathead County Agency on Aging, wrote in a notice letter.  

Bigfork Senior Center delivers food prepared in the Kalispell AOA building to roughly 25 seniors in Bigfork, Ferndale and Woods Bay. Each Meals on Wheels meal includes 4 ounces of protein. President of the Senior Center Board Bruce Peck noted that one steer could fill 1,500 meals and one hog 1,000.  

“It would enhance the meals that we’re currently getting. Fresh beef, fresh pork will be helpful to the agency and the kitchen there,” Peck said.  

The upcoming Northwest Montana Fair in Kalispell will have its Beef Show starting Wednesday, August 14 at 10 a.m. The Swine Showmanship event takes place Monday, August 12 at 10 a.m. with judging from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday. The sale will take place Saturday, August 17 starting at 8 a.m. with beef first followed by hog and lamb. To donate, check Meals on Wheels on the sale order in the donation section of the buyer’s request form.  

Swan River Buttons and Bows hog entries include Ryden Klempel, Dawson and Brooke Miner, Autumn, Abner and Elizabeth Holmes and Chaise Pliley.

“This is an opportunity for the community to create an intergenerational connection of support between Flathead County 4-H youth, businesses and individuals, and all the seniors AOA nourishes,” the AOA release stated.