Senior citizens from all around Sunflower County will receive another special treat on Sunday courtesy of the staff of Sunflower Humphreys County Progress Incorporated and the Mississippi Department of Human Services Division of Community Service’s “Dinner is Served” program.
The "Dinner is Served" meal distribution project provides meals to the elderly in Sunflower and Humphreys counties on alternating Sundays and SHCPI plans to serve again on this Sunday, April 25.
The first deliveries took place on April 11 and were done in conjunction with the Sunflower County Sheriff's Department. The team reportedly distributed more than 600 meals and some gift bags containing hand sanitizer and other items to the more-aged senior citizens of the county.
The pickup site for that Sunday was the former Pennington Junior High/Save the Children Head Start located on Chapman Street in Indianola.
SHCPI CEO, Monica Hope, said they would also distribute dinners at the John and David Matthews Apartment Complex and the Nelson Dotson apartment complex in Indianola, plus apartment complexes in Sunflower, Belzoni, Drew, Rome and Ruleville.
The meals are said to be traditional southern dishes and are provided for the senior citizen population that may be homebound and not physically able to prepare their own meals.
Hope said, “Our elderly community needs us. As a community action agency, we’re working hard to identify and provide our meal services to those that can benefit the most from this project. Funding for this project is provided by the State of Mississippi – Division of Community Service, CSBG CARES Act and we’re so grateful to be awarded this grant for our area.”
The coordinators stated that although a person who is 55 years of age is technically considered a senior citizen, those who are beyond that age will be given first consideration.
The plates will only be given to the seniors. And, for those who are unable to pick them up, a list of names and addresses has been developed and the sheriff's department plus volunteers from other agencies will distribute those.
The gift bags that were distributed on April 11 were courtesy of Sheriff James Haywood and Gloria Hayes was the coordinator for that portion of the giveaway.
If you know of any senior citizen that may be in need of these services, please call SHCPI’s central office at (662) 887-1431 to let them know. They will need the senior citizen’s name, address, and phone number to add them to the list. Hope said, “Together, we make a difference.”
