Metro Meals on Wheels Extends Condolences to the Family of Elden Gray

Metro Meals on Wheels extends condolences to the family of Elden Gray, who passed away on December 23rd, 2015.

Gray was instrumental in the development of Julius M. Kleiner Park in Meridian. The 60-acre park includes water and fountains, pathways, playgrounds, band shell, and the Meridian Senior Center, where Metro serves more than 100 Congregate meals each weekday. In addition, over 200 meals are prepared and sent out from the Meridian Senior Center kitchen for homebound seniors in the Meridian area. Kleiner Park is home to Metro’s March for Meals event, which will take place on March 19th.
 
Metro Meals on Wheels is grateful to Gray for his significant contribution to the City of Meridian. Metro is also grateful for the opportunity to serve nutritious meals to Meridian senior citizens at the Meridian Senior Center.

Help Seniors Avoid Scams

We know that seniors are common targets of scams. Just recently, several local seniors have fallen victim to scam artists, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of retirement dollars. That’s why Metro Meals on Wheels is partnering with our Better Business Bureau to help seniors avoid being victims of scams. Check out the Be Senior Savvy section on their website for resources that aid seniors in identifying and steering clear of scams. The best place to start from, especially for volunteers, is the Top Scams Targeting Seniors, which includes a video detailing the three most common senior scams as well as what to look out for if you are a caregiver.

Please help spread the word to keep more seniors safe in 2016!

Holiday Dessert Recipe Contest

Congratulations to Joanne Leaeno, winner of the first annual Holiday Dessert Recipe Contest! Joanne submitted her recipe for Pumpkin Squares and won two tickets to the 2016 Culinary Walkabout. The dessert was served to Home Delivered and Congregate clients, and she served her winning treat to the Congregate folks at the Meridian Senior Center on December 18th.

Joanne’s Pumpkin Squares recipe came about rather by accident. Years ago, her late husband “volunteered” Joanne to prepare the food for his company Christmas party. What was served to 300 people at that party in 2005 has since become a holiday tradition. 

Thank you Joanne for making the holidays a little brighter and a lot sweeter for the seniors served by Metro Meals on Wheels!

PUMPKIN SQUARES RECIPE

Crust:
cup flour        
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup quick oats        
½ cup butter

Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and butter – mix until crumbly. Press into the bottom
of  a 9” x 13’ pan and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Filling:
1 can evaporated milk    
2 eggs
1 cup sugar        
½ tsp. salt
2 cups pumpkin puree    
1 tsp. pumpkin spice

Blend pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, salt and pumpkin spice. Mix well and pour over the crust. Bake for 20 minutes.

Topping:
½ cup chopped nuts
1 yellow cake mix
1 stick butter (melted)

Sprinkle the cake mix and nuts over the top of the filling. Pour butter over all the cake mix, making sure it is moist. Bake 20 minutes and cool in pan. When cool, cut into 2 inch squares.

Enjoy!

Community Champions

Metro Meals on Wheels was selected as KTVB’s Community Champion in the “Feeding the Hungry” category! Metro has already been recognized online at KTVB.com, and may be on television, as well. Thank you for your important vote (it definitely helped us win) and to KTVB and Idaho Central Credit Union for nominating Metro.

Enter the Holiday Dessert Recipe Contest!

How would you like to make the holidays a little brighter (and sweeter) for our seniors citizens? You can by entering your favorite holiday dessert in the Metro Meals on Wheels “Holiday Dessert Recipe Contest.” 

The winning dessert will be served to homebound senior citizens and at senior centers throughout Ada County for the holidays. The winner will receive two tickets to the 2016 Culinary Walkabout, have the opportunity to serve their award-winning dessert to seniors, and receive lots of recognition!

“Primarily for nutritious reasons, we do not include desserts on the menu very often," said Grant Jones, director of Metro Meals on Wheels. “Our seniors love dessert, and the holidays are the perfect time for a new treat.” Metro Meals on Wheels delivers and serves more than 900 hot, nutritious meals each weekday throughout Ada County.

Send your recipe and contact information to gjones@metromealsonwheels.net by November 30th.

Happy (sweet) holidays, and good luck!