WILLMAR
— Fresh and frozen meals were provided Tuesday to older adults eligible for the Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors thanks to a partnership between the
Kandiyohi County Food Shelf
, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and the Minnesota Vikings Foundation. Seniors received their typical program food bundle drive-through style at the Willmar Community Center and were provided 10 additional frozen meals per person from Lutheran Social Service along with a turkey burger lunch cooked on-site by the Minnesota Vikings Foundation. Both Lutheran Social Service and the Minnesota Vikings Foundation reached out to the food shelf to help area seniors in need of food assistance.
This is the first time the Minnesota Vikings Foundation helped with an event to an outstate program. Primarily, the foundation serves youth in the metro area. David Brunette, the foundation's chef, said the foundation recognizes that there's a gap in serving the older population.
"We know there's a lot of need in rural communities, particularly in both youth and older populations. We plan to have several more donations this summer to assist with that," Brunette said.
Approximately 60 people signed up for the Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors on Tuesday, according to Alana Ziehl, executive director of the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf.
"This is definitely an underserved population and we're really happy to be doing this," Ziehl said. "We want more people to know about these programs since many of our community members might be eligible for assistance."
Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors has been distributing at the Willmar Community Center since the beginning of the year in order to make the program more accessible and some of the clients have noticed. Renee Cash, a program client, said she prefers the drive-through as opposed to going directly to the food shelf location in downtown Willmar.
"This program is needed and convenient," Cash said.
1/15: Millie Boyle receives a turkey burger lunch cooked on-site by the Minnesota Vikings Foundation on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at the Willmar Community Center in Willmar during the Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors food pickup. The Kandiyohi County Food Shelf partnered with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and the Minnesota Vikings Foundation to provide additional fresh and frozen meals for program clients. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
2/15: Ken Newberg helps distribute Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors food boxes Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at the Willmar Community Center in Willmar. The Kandiyohi County Food Shelf partnered with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and the Minnesota Vikings Foundation to provide additional fresh and frozen meals for program clients. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
3/15: David Brunette, left, and Megan Beuthien of the Minnesota Vikings Foundation prepare turkey burger meals cooked on-site Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at the Willmar Community Center in Willmar during the Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors food pickup. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
4/15: Cars line up Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at the Willmar Community Center in Willmar during the Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors food pickup. The Kandiyohi County Food Shelf partnered with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and the Minnesota Vikings Foundation to provide additional fresh and frozen meals for program clients. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
5/15: Alana Ziehl, executive director of the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf, speaks with clients Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at the Willmar Community Center in Willmar during the Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors food pickup. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
6/15: Volunteer Heidi Haagenson distributes frozen meals provided by Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at the Willmar Community Center in Willmar during the Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors food pickup. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
7/15: Cars line up Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at the Willmar Community Center in Willmar during the Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors food pickup. The Kandiyohi County Food Shelf partnered with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and the Minnesota Vikings Foundation to provide additional fresh and frozen meals for program clients. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
8/15: The line begins to form outside the Willmar Community Center on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, as Kandiyohi County Food Shelf partnered with the Lutheran Social Service and the Minnesota Vikings Foundation to hand out meals to seniors in Kandiyohi County. Tim Speier / West Central Tribune
9/15: Alana Ziehl, Executive Director of the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf, explains the benefits and process to Alex Spears and Renee Cash on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, held at the Willmar Community Center. Tim Speier / West Central Tribune
10/15: As the needs of the community grow, so do the lines outside of the Willmar Community Center as the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf partnered with the Lutheran Social Service and the Minnesota Vikings Foundation to hand out meals to seniors on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. Tim Speier / West Central Tribune
11/15: Chrissy Elton, Regional Manager for Lutheran Social Service Meals, bringing out bags of food to seniors in need at the pop-up food drive on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, held at the Willmar Community Center. Tim Speier / West Central Tribune
12/15: Ken Newberg volunteered to help those less fortunate at the Willmar Community Center on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. The pop-up event, open from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., provide meals to around 50 people that had previously signed up. Tim Speier / West Central Tribune
13/15: Volunteering at the food shelf, Ken Newberg and Heidi Haagenson, load fresh and frozen meals in the back of seniors' vehicles at Willmar Community Center on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. Tim Speier / West Central Tribune
14/15: Alana Ziehl, Executive Director of the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf, helps clients fill out paperwork as they move through the process on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at the Willmar Community Center. Lola was just happy to go for a ride. Tim Speier / West Central Tribune
15/15: Local seniors lined up at the Willmar Community Center on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, to receive meals through the Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors. The Minnesota Vikings Foundation cooked and handed out lunch to those waiting in line. Tim Speier / West Central Tribune
