National Guard steps in to deliver meals on wheels to meet demand
(Photo by Zachary Meseck)
CHENANGO COUNTY - In response to a request for aid from the Chenango County Area Agency on Aging, the New York National Guard is delivering locally prepared food to vulnerable populations throughout Chenango County.
Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matthew Beckwith said currently the Area Agency on Aging is delivering food to 275 people per week, and that with volunteer numbers dwindling the New York National Guard has agreed to fill in with manpower and ensure the meals are delivered throughout Chenango County.
Beckwith said approximately 10 service members of the New York National Guard will be assisting Chenango County personnel with food delivery until Friday, April 24. He said after the completion of the deliveries, they will return to a hotel in Binghamton and await their next food delivery assignment from the Emergency Management Office.
Beckwith said county officials will continue to request the National Guard’s assistance until the pandemic is over. He added that the food is cooked by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office.
The food program in Chenango County has been sustained in large part by the efforts of volunteer senior citizens. Many older volunteers, who are at heighten risk of getting seriously sick, had been torn between following New York State guidelines on protecting their health and being unable to make deliveries or continue to work and accept the risk, all while the demand of the service is rising. Since the national guard stepped in all the volunteers have been thanked for their service and temporarily given time off during the crisis.
According to Chenango County Area Agency on Aging Director Brian Wessels, ever since the agency was founded in 1974 it has provided a senior nutrition program, but recently the pandemic began to put a strain on the part of the program that deals with delivering food to the elderly in need.
“We were experiencing an increase in requests, and the concern we had was that we were going to burn out our volunteers,” said Wessels. “Many of our volunteers are older and retired, and as the demand increased that meant more deliveries throughout the county for them.”
Wessels said Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matthew Beckwith recommended reaching out to the National Guard to see if they were able to provide support, and after sending in a request they were informed that representatives were on the way.
“This is a huge relief for our volunteers, now we’re able to maintain what we’re doing and give our core group of volunteers some time to recuperate while the National Guard provides the manpower.”
New York National Guard First Lieutenant Sean Katko said the National Guard was happy to be able to help the residents of Chenango County, and that their number one goal is to ensure everyone is safe and properly fed - especially during the pandemic.
“We’re focused on providing Chenango County residents what they need during this tough time,” said Katko. “Everyone is taking the appropriate measures to make sure everyone is safe during the deliveries.”
Katko said the National Guard will ride on county transit buses, deliver food to the individual’s doorsteps, and then head on to the next stop.
“If you see someone coming up to your house in uniform, just know we’re here to help,” he said.
He added that it is best residents don’t come out until the National Guard is an appropriate distance away from the door to help maintain social distancing guidelines.
Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matthew Beckwith said currently the Area Agency on Aging is delivering food to 275 people per week, and that with volunteer numbers dwindling the New York National Guard has agreed to fill in with manpower and ensure the meals are delivered throughout Chenango County.
Beckwith said approximately 10 service members of the New York National Guard will be assisting Chenango County personnel with food delivery until Friday, April 24. He said after the completion of the deliveries, they will return to a hotel in Binghamton and await their next food delivery assignment from the Emergency Management Office.
Beckwith said county officials will continue to request the National Guard’s assistance until the pandemic is over. He added that the food is cooked by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office.
The food program in Chenango County has been sustained in large part by the efforts of volunteer senior citizens. Many older volunteers, who are at heighten risk of getting seriously sick, had been torn between following New York State guidelines on protecting their health and being unable to make deliveries or continue to work and accept the risk, all while the demand of the service is rising. Since the national guard stepped in all the volunteers have been thanked for their service and temporarily given time off during the crisis.
According to Chenango County Area Agency on Aging Director Brian Wessels, ever since the agency was founded in 1974 it has provided a senior nutrition program, but recently the pandemic began to put a strain on the part of the program that deals with delivering food to the elderly in need.
“We were experiencing an increase in requests, and the concern we had was that we were going to burn out our volunteers,” said Wessels. “Many of our volunteers are older and retired, and as the demand increased that meant more deliveries throughout the county for them.”
Wessels said Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matthew Beckwith recommended reaching out to the National Guard to see if they were able to provide support, and after sending in a request they were informed that representatives were on the way.
“This is a huge relief for our volunteers, now we’re able to maintain what we’re doing and give our core group of volunteers some time to recuperate while the National Guard provides the manpower.”
New York National Guard First Lieutenant Sean Katko said the National Guard was happy to be able to help the residents of Chenango County, and that their number one goal is to ensure everyone is safe and properly fed - especially during the pandemic.
“We’re focused on providing Chenango County residents what they need during this tough time,” said Katko. “Everyone is taking the appropriate measures to make sure everyone is safe during the deliveries.”
Katko said the National Guard will ride on county transit buses, deliver food to the individual’s doorsteps, and then head on to the next stop.
“If you see someone coming up to your house in uniform, just know we’re here to help,” he said.
He added that it is best residents don’t come out until the National Guard is an appropriate distance away from the door to help maintain social distancing guidelines.
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