$10,000 given to support Meals on Wheels

A generous donation by a local agency will help ensure that the Pahrump Senior Center’s homebound residents will remain nutritionally sated.

On Thursday, officials from Pahrump’s Nathan Adelson Hospice presented the center with a check for $10,000 to benefit the “Meals on Wheels” program.

Kieran Shah, hospice senior director of business development, said the Meals on Wheels program is an invaluable service for the community’s senior population.

“We identified an amount that we could help contribute towards that as well as some additional services that can help keep this very important program going. It is one of the greatest community outreach programs that the Pahrump Senior Center has. It provides lunch and supports all of the seniors in the community,” he said.

Shah also said that many times, a home-delivered meal is the only sustenance some seniors have to rely on.

“To provide them with meals at home for the individuals who qualify for this program is something that needs to continue. Our donation of $10,000 is just a small donation in what is needed to keep this program running,” he said.

Tyann James, the hospice’s physician and community outreach representative, said her organization has many patients who use the program on a regular basis.

“We wanted to help a program that is helping our patients. We came up with the amount of money that we could contribute as well as some other services. We have volunteers who will help deliver the meals so we just want to help the same program that really benefits our patients,” she said.

Senior Center President Jim Groneman said the welcomed donation will also offset other costs associated with the program.

“Nathan Adelson’s partnership with the senior center is outstanding because the program has just ballooned in the last six to eight months. We are doing well over 100 folks here in the valley and that is seven meals a week per person. We have fuel costs, maintenance on the vehicles and all kinds of expenses that you don’t really think of besides the meals. This donation is really going to help us out greatly.

Nevada District 36 Assemblyman James Oscarson, who attended the benefit ceremony, praised the efforts of both agencies.

“This is a great asset in our community and to have Nathan Adelson step up the way they have is huge, not just for the center but for the entire community,” he said.

The Pahrump Senior Center is a nonprofit organization that provides nutrition, socialization and transportation to area seniors.

All services are provided through grants and donations.