Dear Friends and Partners,
This is the June 13th update of Wright County’s Care and Nutrition Partnership in support of Seniors (60+). We are starting our 65th week of response to COVID-19. Our seniors have been so blessed by many of you. This is the last COVID-19 edition of this update at least for now as over 90% of our seniors have now been vaccinated and the race to protect this highly vulnerable population has been a tremendous success. Thank you so much for staying tuned in and supporting this really critical work. We are so very grateful for a community that has come together and put a shield up to protect the 60+ population here in Wright County that we all love. Please take a minute to skip down to the end of this email to remember and recognize the many contributors to this effort over the last year and three months. A blog is available to follow the story throughout the pandemic: WCCA Senior Care and Nutrition Blog. A 100 year pandemic and those willing to make a difference, hopefully, will not be soon forgotten.
Wright County Community Action (WCCA) has a
support line for seniors; please encourage seniors to call (320) 963-6500 ext. 274. As a community, we want to help with our most vulnerable
neighbors’ challenges, including isolation and the impact that results,
assistance with grocery access through education, grocery delivery, senior
mobile food shelf needs, frozen meal support, assistance in scheduling
vaccine appointments, prescription access, and needs like
housekeeping, chores, assisted transportation and other logistical issues as
they present.
Western Hennepin
In addition to our work in Wright County, NourishingHOPE is extending frozen meal support just beyond the Wright County Line to the east into Western Hennepin County. Seniors there in Western Hennepin County can reach out to NourishingHOPE to learn about frozen meal support in their local community. Communities in Western Hennepin include Corcoran, Greenfield, Hamel, Hassen, Loretto, Rogers, Delano, Hanover, Maple Plain, Otsego, and Rockford. For more information about Western Hennepin services, please contact nourishinghope.oflc@gmail.com or call (763) 477-6300.
This month’s NourishingHOPE
Food Drop is scheduled for Monday June 14th.
In addition, to the product offered from Second Harvest Heartland, NourishingHOPE
will be distributing frozen chicken and hand soap, thanks to a generous
donation from Annandale Food Shelf.
Please
share this email so all our seniors and their family and friends have access to
this information and can confidentially check into resources they may need.
Shout-out to Strategic Partners, WCCA Staff, and Volunteers
Senior Frozen Meal Packing
Many of you haven’t had the privilege of meeting Tina Portz, yet
she has been a resourceful and amazing volunteer since the beginning of the
pandemic. Tina started out the pandemic as a volunteer, leading the push
for diapers, wipes, and formula through a grassroots product drive helping to
support Wright County families in Head Start, foster care, and the food
shelves, well before funding was available from governmental funding sources
like the Cares Act. Tina’s heart is big, and she proved to be invaluable
with regard to her ability to build and support partnerships. Tina not
only led the early zucchini bread production for seniors but has been
instrumental in the partnership with J&B Group and the warehouse freezer
support they have so generously provided. Tina today is working as
a consultant directing Senior frozen meal traffic flow from production at Waverly
Café and Catholic Charities, to warehouse freezer storage at J&B
Group, to planning the logistics for each weekly senior packing event
throughout the County. Tina has been there in the background through the
whole process supporting seniors with her talents. We could not be more
grateful for her talents and gifts applied to the COVID Crisis for our families
and seniors.
WCCA Volunteer and Trusted Consultant during the pandemic supporting our youngest population, our babies, through our most vulnerable senior population – Tina Portz
While today we highlighted Tina’s story, there are so many stories
archived in our blog (WCCA Senior Care and Nutrition Blog) about how this community
came together with new innovation almost each week. Throughout the last
fifteen months each individual and group listed below has a unique and special
place in support of Wright County seniors and families during the
pandemic. There are farmers like the Untiedt’s Vegetable Farm;
restauranteurs like Waverly Café; other corporate partners like J&B
Group, Trailblazer, Buffalo Crossings, Cargill, St.
Cloud Refrigeration, and Walgreens; faith-based organizations
like the partners of NourishingHope, Grace Place and so many
other independent churches – some listed below; Non-profit organizations and
foundations like Catholic Charities, Area United Ways, and eQuality
Farms; Civic Organizations like the Lion’s Clubs from all over the
area; area food shelves; cities, county, and state governmental
agencies including Wright County Public Health and Wright County Human Services;
not to mention the tireless work done through WCCA staff and so many
faithful and giving Volunteers. Your work and contribution is a testament to how a
community can come together in the time of crisis to do something very
special. Thank you so much for sharing your talents and resources.
Loading meals at J&B
Group in St. Michael
Volunteering for senior meal packing really heated up this week
WCCA Food Shelf volunteers Betty
Salonek and Connie Hall in action
WCCA volunteer Ron Krohn and WCCA
Staff member Mel Flanum
Volunteers Gail and Mark Reitan
(pictured) really pulled us out of jam this week
We could use your help,
too!
If
you have a team that might want to help us pack frozen meals on a Thursday
morning, please let us know. Packing usually happens at least once per
week and takes less than two hours. Each packing can be done with up to 4
or 5 volunteers. Call 763-658-4414 if you want to learn more about this volunteering
opportunity.
If
you are willing to help deliver meals to seniors’ homes, please call 320-963-6500 Ext 274 and let us know so that we can find the best place to plug you in.
Wright County COVID-19 IMPACT
As of June 10th we’ve had 16,384 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wright County. This measurement began March 13th of 2020. The chart below demonstrates the daily trend of cases since mid-March 2020. In the last week had only 33 confirmed new cases. This is a drastic drop in over half from last week J.
Senior
Vaccination Scheduling
90.9%
of our
seniors (65+) have been vaccinated to date (14,869 of about 16,361). Only another 67 Wright County seniors were vaccinated in the week. Senior
vaccinations are really slowing down. We have 1,492 seniors left to go.
Let’s keep encouraging our seniors to get their COVID-19 vaccination.
Please check on your friends and neighbors to help them to register, if they
could use your help.
If
you know a Senior
(60+) who has limited or no access to email or is just unsure of what to do, WCCA Aging Alliance
is working with seniors to help schedule or arrange for the
vaccine. If you are a senior (60+) and need help making an appointment or need special arrangements,
please call (320)
963-6500 ext. 274
Wright County Vaccination by age group
https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/data/index.jsp

18 Wright County Vaccine
Locations
https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/find-vaccine/locations/index.jsp
Local
Wright County vaccine locations include:
- Allina
Health Annandale Clinic – Annandale (612) 262-5533 (Appointment required) www.allinahealth.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccines
- Allina
Health Cokato Clinic – Cokato (612) 262-5533 (Appointment required) www.allinahealth.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccines
- Allina
Health St. Michael Clinic – St. Michael (612) 262-5533 (Appointment required) www.allinahealth.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccines
- CentraCare – Monticello (320) 200-3200 (Appointment
required) covid19.centracare.com/covid-19-vaccine-information/
- Coborns
Pharmacy #2029 – Albertville (763) 497-1139 (Appointment
required)
- Coborns Pharmacy #2008 –
Clearwater (320) 558-2454 (Appointment
required)
- Coborns Pharmacy #2028 – Delano
(763) 972-8385 (Appointment
required)
- Coborns Pharmacy #2047 – Otsego
(763) 328-1701 (Appointment
required)
- Cub Pharmacy #1929 – Buffalo (952) 445-6344 (Appointment
required)
www.cub.com/pharmacy/services/covid-testing-information.html
- Cub Pharmacy #1632 – Monticello
(763) 270-7473 (Appointment
required)
www.cub.com/pharmacy/services/covid-testing-information.html
- Cub Pharmacy #1965 – St.
Michael (320) 759-1135 (Appointment
required)
www.cub.com/pharmacy/services/covid-testing-information.html
- CVS Pharmacy #17260 –
Monticello (888) 300-4419 (Appointment
required)
www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine
- Thrifty White Pharmacy #787 – Annandale (320) 274-3062 (Appointment required and Pre-registration) www.thriftywhite.com/covid19vaccine
- Walgreens – Monticello (763) 295-5890 (Appointment required)
walgreens.com/schedulevaccine
- Walgreens
– St. Michael (763) 497-8530 (Appointment required) walgreens.com/schedulevaccine
- Walmart
#1577 – Buffalo (763)
682-2963 (Appointment
required, Pre-screening, and Pre-registration) www.walmart.com/covidvaccine
- Walmart #3624 – Monticello (763) 295-9813 (Appointment
required, Pre-screening, and Pre-registration) www.walmart.com/covidvaccine
- Wright County Public Health – Buffalo (763) 682-7607 (Appointment required and Pre-registration) check here for availability http://www.co.wright.mn.us/997/COVID-19-Vaccine
Trailblazer
Transit –
is providing no cost rides to COVID-19 vaccinations.
Trailblazer Transit is offering transportation at no cost to customers for any rides related to a COVID-19 vaccination. Caretakers and children may also ride along at no cost. Customers will need to coordinate with their health care providers or the vaccination clinics to schedule the appointments for the vaccines and then contact Trailblazer to schedule the transportation.
Rides for
vaccinations are scheduled subject to bus availability and are coordinated with
other rides in normal fashion. Trailblazer Transit may extend
hours into the evening or add hours on Saturdays for the purpose of providing
COVID-19 vaccination transportation. Please call toll-free 1-888-743-3828 to
ask any questions and to schedule your transportation. The buses are
clean, safe, and comfortable. Masks are required on the bus and social
distancing polices are in effect. https://www.trailblazertransit.com/program-overview/
If
you just want to know a little bit more about the basics of the vaccine,
checkout this Vaccine Fact Sheet:
http://www.co.wright.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/21224/Vaccine-Fact-Sheet?bidId=
Grace Place helping with water filter
pitchers in Montrose
Grace Place in Montrose has offered their support as a distribution site for Montrose residents needing filtered water support. Particularly, we hope young families with infant children and seniors needing a water filter pitcher will feel comfortable going to Grace Place to get a pitcher. Specific groups that are very vulnerable include our local infants, the elderly, and those with liver disease (ref).
Seniors of Montrose (60+), if you need a water filter pitcher, please let us know by calling our WCCA Aging Alliance number at (320) 963-6500 Ext. 274. While water pitchers are currently available for pick up at Grace Place, we will do our best to bring it to you if you are unable to pick it up yourself.
If you or a potential partner would like to help expand food resources to our seniors expressly on Highway 12, please consider donating to the “COVID-19 Food” fund at the Delano Loretto Area United Way:
Write a check to: Delano Loretto Area United Way
In the memo line, write: “COVID-19 Food.”
Mail
to:
P.O. Box 578
Delano, MN 55328
Or
visit the Delano Loretto Area United Way Website http://www.delanolorettouw.org/ and click “Donate” -- donations via credit card or PayPal (click on “write a
note”, write “COVID-19 Food”)
If
you want to target expansion of frozen meal delivery in other parts of Wright
County including the Highway 55 corridor and I-94 corridor, please consider
donating to the “COVID-19 Food” fund at Wright County Community Action:
Write a check to: Wright County Community Action
In the memo line, write: “COVID-19 Food.”
Mail
to:
P.O. Box 787
Maple Lake, MN 55358
Or
visit the Wright County Community Action Agency Website (dedicate to: “COVID-19 Food”) https://www.wccaweb.com
Please forward this email to potential
partners!
Grateful,
Jay
Weatherford
WCCA
Executive Director
For more information for Wright County senior support services:
https://www.wccaweb.com/Home/Index (click current programs)
or
email: agingservices@wccaweb.com
or call:
(320) 963-6500 Ext 274 – Aging Program Manager - Eric Nagel
(320) 963-6500 Ext 241 – Dispatch
1-800-333-2433 – Senior LinkAge Line
Delivered Frozen Meal Program(s) – WCCA at (320) 963-6500 Ext 274 or Catholic Charities Meals on Wheels program located in Maple Lake: (320) 963-5771, Annandale: (320) 274-3891 and Buffalo: (763) 682-6036
To
volunteer:
Contact (320) 963-6500 Ext. 225 –– Jen Liebeck jliebeck@wccaweb.com
Or enroll on Website: https://www.wccaweb.com/Home/Volunteer
Partner support
·
Second Harvest – free
and reduced cost bulk raw food products for frozen meal production.
·
Delano Coborn’s – weekly
food rescue makes a tremendous impact on food security resources.
·
Local Farmers –
Untiedt’s Vegetable Farm and Dechene Corporation of Big Lake Minnesota –
contributing produce for senior meal support and local food security needs.
·
Waverly Café - ingenuity
and giving spirit including their PPP loan directed at paying their staff to
produce senior meals, catering expertise, and use of their commercial kitchen.
·
Hunger Solutions –
assistance and funding support for food rescue and concept building
·
Catholic Charities
partially funded by Central MN Council on Aging – frozen meals contribution and
Meals-on-Wheels referral partner.
·
Cargill – ongoing senior
breakfast meals support.
·
J&B Group – bulk
warehouse freezer storage including bulk prepared meal storage and bulk raw
food storage; not to mention helping us resolve logistical issues, as well as
supplying a really great box with the outcome of providing so many solutions to
challenges we have faced in our production process.
·
Buffalo Crossings LLC
and member Joel Nystrom, owner of Oriental Buffet in Buffalo – commercial
walk-in freezer, commercial walk-in cooler, and commercial kitchen to pack and
store senior meals and produce.
·
Water Companies –
Culligan of Buffalo, Bernick’s of St. Cloud through a partnership with Wright
County Economic Development, Dahlheimer Beverage of Monticello, Capital
Beverage Sales, L.P. and Zero Water.
·
Local Food Shelves –
produce distribution, local frozen meal and bulk food storage, as well as
senior services registration (Annandale Food Shelf, Buffalo Food Shelf,
Monticello Help Center, Meek Area Food Shelf, and Waverly Food Shelf).
·
Trailblazer – daily
volunteer based County-wide local senior meal delivery.
·
eQuality Farms –
volunteer packing, loading and off-loading senior meals, as well as helping to
recycle boxes using their employed adults with disabilities to break the boxes
down into compost layering, making tinder for wood stoves, and bedding for
chickens.
·
Delano Senior Center –
senior services application fulfillment, frozen meal distribution, produce
distribution, as well as Meals-on-Wheels referral partner.
·
NourshingHOPE – senior
services applications fulfillment, frozen meal distribution, and produce
distribution.
·
Forgotten Harvest and
Twin Cities Relief Initiative – metro area frozen meal distribution and produce
distribution.
·
Wright County Human
Services/Public Health – volunteer recruitment support, data support,
instructional materials design, and logistics support.
·
St. Cloud Refrigeration
– emergency air conditioning for the Waverly Café kitchen.
·
Electrical Workers
Union, IBEW Local 292 – brought to the partnership Olympia Tech Electric to
support new electrical service needed at Waverly Café
·
Olympia Tech Electric –
installing new electrical services at Waverly Café needed for additional
freezer capacity
·
Local Lions Clubs –
local community freezer development and contributions to the cost of frozen
meals (Waverly, Montrose, Howard Lake, Maple Lake, Loretto, and Monticello).
·
Local Municipalities –
local freezer storage funding support (City of Waverly, City of Montrose, City
of Howard Lake).
·
Health Care Partners –
Allina Health (financial support)
·
Other Local Corporations
– Citizen State Bank of Waverly (freezer funding support), HWY 55 Trailer Sales
of Buffalo, and Walgreens (shopping bags).
·
Local Faith-based
organizations – many very giving churches for many years have been active in
financial support for food security across Wright County (too many to mention
them all – but you know who you are) . – in addition, Love INC, St Mary’s
Catholic Church, Alleluia Lutheran, Our Father’s Lutheran, St. John’s Lutheran,
Grace Place, North Ridge Fellowship Small Group and friends, Montrose United
Methodist Church, Zion Lutheran, Living Water Christian Fellowship, Buffalo
Covenant have provided support for senior call center activity, B.R.E.A.D
program outreach, volunteer administrative services, food security, food
preparation, and meal and food storage - access and delivery.
·
Initiative Foundations,
Delano Loretto Area United Way, Wright County Area United Way, Mardag Foundation,
and St Paul and Minnesota Foundations including funding for COVID-19 direct
response, Catchafire membership, and B.R.E.A.D. program funding.
·
State Live Well at Home
Funding and Federal Title III funding support administered by the Minnesota Board
on Aging and Central Minnesota Council on Aging.
·
Oliver Equipment Lease
for the required equipment to seal the senior meal trays.
·
AMI Group and IDA Foods
– access to airline meal vendors adding senior meal production capacity and
contingency support. This opportunity to purchase over stock of
first-class airline meals due to drop in air travel and our partners sharing
their relationships.
·
Tireless WCCA Staff
support from multiple programs working to braid any allowable resource to make
a difference for our seniors.
·
Countless community
volunteers - everything from administrative services support, logistics and
storage coordination, bulk food and materials transport, senior transportation,
local meal delivery, meal packing, senior call center activity, PPE production
and product support, volunteer coordination, food rescue, and so many more
details where you fill the gap (you too, know who you are – we are so
grateful for your courage and willingness to step forward to meet needs).
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