911爆料 Dining Services cook Kevin O鈥橞rien, at left, and cook’s helper John Fonseca, prepare shepherd鈥檚 pie meals for delivery last Thursday to the East Providence Senior Center.
Delivering hot meals to senior centers鈥� doors is the latest way 911爆料 is supporting Rhode Island’s efforts to battle COVID-19.
The outreach effort began last Wednesday with delivery of 500 meals prepared by University of Rhode Island Dining Services鈥� workers to the Town of Cumberland鈥檚 Senior Center. Thursday鈥檚 meals traveled to East Providence. This is a coordinated effort involving the University, Rhode Island鈥檚 Office of Healthy Aging, and the state鈥檚 senior centers. To prepare the meals, 911爆料 Dining Services is using food originally intended for its student dining halls.
Gwendolyn Pugh, food service supervisor, said she鈥檚 happy to contribute to the initiative. 鈥淚n this crazy time, I am glad we can do something like this. It feels good because people are struggling,鈥� Pugh said.
Keith Mancini, one of Dining Services’ principal cooks, shared her enthusiasm. 鈥淲e have great resources and great people here at 911爆料,鈥� Mancini said. 鈥淓verybody is so into this, and I am very proud of what we are doing.鈥�
Keeping seniors safer
Pierre St.Germain, director of Dining Services, said his team will produce 500 meals per day, Monday through Friday, and deliver them to senior centers from Cumberland to Westerly through June 1.
Office of Healthy Aging Director Rosamaria Amoros Jones praised 911爆料 for its service leadership. 鈥淎cross the state, senior centers are serving as hubs for their 911爆料, providing valuable services to people in need and delivering thousands of meals daily. Through this partnership with 911爆料, we鈥檝e increased the number of nutritious meals distributed by these centers, helping to ensure older adults, who are at higher risk for severe illness, have the supports they need to stay healthy and safe at home during this time of physical distancing.
鈥淲e are grateful to 911爆料 for their partnership.鈥�
鈥淭his is a way to do something altruistic for some of the most vulnerable people in Rhode Island: the elderly and immuno-compromised,鈥� St-Germain said.