Meals on Wings is a UNF group that delivers meals to homebound senior residents in Jacksonville. One in all their members shall be honored throughout the Jaguars recreation.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jaguars and their followers hope they’re celebrating a win Saturday evening, however there’s assured to be a celebration at halftime of the sport. An area program known as Meals on Wings will take heart stage throughout the greatest Jaguars recreation in 5 years.
It is a busy day within the Hicks Corridor kitchen on UNF’s campus. brussel sprouts, couscous and all method of meals are on the menu, nevertheless it’s not for anyone on this constructing.
Meghan Niemczyk is the Assistant Director of UNF’s Heart for Diet and Meals Safety; for the previous 4 years she, in addition to college students and employees volunteers have recovered further meals from space hospitals and created wholesome meals for dwelling sure seniors in Jacksonville.
“There’s a enormous want, about 1 in 12 seniors is meals insecure,” stated Niemczyk.
However Meals on Wings, which is a complement for adults who’re on the waitlist for Meals on Wheels, is greater than only a supply of wholesome meals. It builds a way of group for the scholars and the seniors.
“It is a part of their coronary heart to see these folks and the senior residents,” stated Niemczyk, “A whole lot of the time that is the one interplay they’ve with somebody a day, so the social interplay is one thing to lower social isolation in our senior inhabitants.”
UNF college students who assist with Meals on Wings agree.
“I like seeing their faces each Friday,” says UNF senior Alicia Scott, “the senior residents are tremendous good, they need to have conversations with you, they need to see the way you’re doing at school. They simply need somebody to take heed to, so it is a fairly good expertise.”
What began as a approach to assist 20 seniors in 2018 has blossomed into meals for 250 senior residents throughout the town.
“The grins on their faces, they’re so grateful,” stated Niemczyk, “we get thankyou notes, we get stuff at Christmas, they’re going to knit potholders, the senior residents make it price it.”
Niemczyk was named because the 2022 TIAA Financial institution Group Champion and shall be honored at halftime of Saturday’s Jaguars recreation.
“Initially after I was named again in August, 30 of my family and friends purchased tickets and now they’re thrilled they’ve tickets to the most effective video games ever in Jags historical past,” stated Niemczyk.
Because the van pulls away for this supply, hopefully the popularity in entrance of Jaguars followers will assist Meals on Wings unfold their wings and develop.
“We now have concepts,” stated Niemczyk. “We have achieved so much with our senior inhabitants, we’d like to develop and embody households and another populations in Jacksonville. There is a large want and there are pockets and areas that we’re figuring out and are prepared to leap in and assist.”
For extra info on Meals on Wings in addition to UNF’s Heart for Diet and Meals Safety, e-mail: cnfs@unf.edu
The Jacksonville Jaguars host the Tennessee Titans Saturday evening at 8:15 on ABC 25. The winner of that recreation wins the AFC South and is assured a house playoff recreation within the first spherical of the playoffs.
