The KC Kosher Meals on Wheels (MOW) program is asking the greater Jewish community for emergency funding for the Torah Learning Center program.
MOW feeds and takes care of the most vulnerable segment of our Jewish community, especially now when the greatest concern is for seniors and individuals with compromised health. A category all the seniors the program services fall into.
Right now, MOW is taking care of 50 home-bound seniors and the number will rise. Most of them cannot cook for themselves. Many use a walker, are wheelchair bound, don’t have the stamina to stand and cook a full meal, do not have full capacity of their hands or suffer from tremors. For many, opening a can is too hard if not impossible. Having a nutritious home-cooked meal they put in the microwave for three minutes is a lifesaver.
To answer the food insecurity needs of our seniors, MOW must cook over 1,000 meals in the next two weeks because of Passover. MOW must have all the meals up to Passover, the kosher for Passover meals and the chametz meals for the week after Passover all cooked beforehand because they must deliver the Passover meals before the holiday and they cannot cook chametz for the next week during the holiday. The seniors also receive matza, grape juice, soup, fruit, etc., for Passover.
In addition to the meals, MOW will be supplying seniors with soap, tissues and other needs to make sure they are taken care of and are well-stocked — all of which are expenses they could not have anticipated.
“We are the eyes and ears that are looking after their well-being in this time of emergency,” said Esther Friedman, who oversees the KC Kosher Meals on Wheels program. “All our doors are open so no knobs or handles are touched once one enters the building. All our volunteers that deliver wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. We supply them with several pairs of gloves to wear as the bags of meals are picked up and to change as needed along the way.”
Volunteers must keep a 6-foot distance when they deliver and all bags are disposable so nothing is reused. Friedman said they are now looking to purchase, at a substantial cost to Torah Learning Center, KN95 masks for all their volunteers.
Also, the volunteer support needed for cooking will be limited to make sure there is at least six feet of space between the volunteers.
“I am asking for the public’s support. I cannot stress enough the help we need right now. Every dollar matters. Your contribution is true tikkun olam in a world that so needs it right now,” Friedman said.
To donate, go to torahkc.org or send a check to Torah Learning Center or KC Kosher MOW, 8800 W. 103rd Street, Overland Park, KS 66212.