By Jennifer Dorsett
Field Editor
Victoria County Farm Bureau (CFB) recently used the Texas Farm Bureau Feeding Texas Co-op Contribution Program to help feed local senior citizens during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“We normally do our Food Connections event at the senior citizens’ center where we serve them a meal and do some food and monetary donations,” Victoria CFB President Leann Hempel said. But this year we thought that might not be what we needed, so we called, and they said they could really use more funds for Meals on Wheels right now.”
Program coordinators told Hempel they had seen a 70 percent increase in applications for Meals on Wheels after the COVID-19 pandemic invaded the U.S.
“The senior citizens’ center is closed right now, and even if it was open, many of those who would normally go get a meal there are probably afraid to be exposed to the virus,” she said. “So, Meals on Wheels is really providing an invaluable service for people who maybe otherwise wouldn’t get to eat. We’re just so glad we can help out in some way to prevent our senior citizens from going hungry.”
By taking advantage of the matching grant funds offered, Victoria CFB presented Meals on Wheels Victoria with a $2,000 check.
“It’s wonderful that Texas Farm Bureau is making county donations bigger and better,” Hempel said. “This is a difficult time, but we’re all in this together.”
In a Facebook post announcing the donation, Victoria CFB stated, “Our passion is agriculture and educating about agriculture, but we also love that we have the opportunity to help our community during these hard times with COVID-19.”