Meals on Wheels of Northampton County was recently selected to receive the 2011 Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Nutrition for Older Pennsylvanians by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Aging.

The award was given to Meals on Wheels of Northampton County (MOWNC) as a result of their dedication and innovation in expanding nutrition services to older adults within Northampton and surrounding communities.  MOWNC has been partnering with Area Agencies on Aging for the past forty years.  In addition to providing home delivered meals, MOWNC offers a vast array of additional services that help to make a difference in the lives of older adults and individuals in need.  These services include:  “Blizzard Boxes” which contain shelf staple meals for clients in the event that meals cannot be delivered during inclement weather; a “Listening Ear” program where volunteers call socially isolated clients on a regular basis to provide social contact; a “Food Line” program which offers a grocery delivery service in selected communities; “Ani-Meals”, a pet food service which provides pet food donated by Phillips Feed, Inc. to clients who own pets; and “Chef Packs”, a selection of nutritious frozen meals to older adults or individuals (such as those recovering from surgery) who are unable to cook for themselves.  All of these services help to make a positive difference in the lives of the people served.

“We are extremely honored to receive this prestigious award and thank the Pennsylvania Department of Aging for this recognition,” said Joann Bergeron-Nenow, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of Northampton County.

The Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Nutrition for Older Pennsylvanians was presented to Meals on Wheels of Northampton County during the Nutrition Services Conference Awards Luncheon held on Monday, May 16, 2011 at the Penn Stater Conference Center and Hotel in State College, PA.