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VAC ready to serve more food for Meals on Wheels

SYCAMORE – Voluntary Action Center is a step closer to expanding its meal delivery programs thanks to a $92,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation.

VAC unveiled two new “hot shot” vehicles at a ceremony Thursday at its Sycamore facility, 1606 Bethany Road. The food delivery vehicles are equipped with hot and cold compartments to ensure proper temperature regulation for food transported as part of VAC’s Meals on Wheels program. A grant from the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program was used to buy the vehicles.

“Meals on Wheels continues to a good service to seniors and others who cannot prepare their own meals,” DeKalb Mayor John Rey said. “Citizens receive benefit from Walmart partnering with this generous support.”

Rey said the donation underscored the importance of public-private partnerships.

The vehicles allow VAC to replace part of its aging fleet of vehicles and expand meal delivery service to rural areas that previously were too far away for safe delivery, according to a news release.mealsonwheels-1

In addition to food service for the Meals on Wheels program, VAC plans to use the vehicles to serve meals to students during the summer as part of the free and reduced lunch program. VAC serves meals to several sites in DeKalb County, including Camp Power in University Village, as part of that effort, VAC Executive Director Ellen Rogers said.

Voluntary Action Center, a nonprofit organization, provides transportation and nutritional services in DeKalb, LaSalle, Putnam, Bureau and Kendall counties.

Rogers said the Meals on Wheels program would be expanded once the state starts paying it bills and service cuts have been restored.

“At the Walmart Foundation, we know how important it is to have access to healthy, affordable food,” said Jim Haager, manager of the Rochelle Walmart store. “We’re proud to support VAC and their efforts to help the residents of DeKalb, LaSalle, Putnam, Bureau counties live better.”

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Published by: DAILY CHRONICLE- news@daily-chronicle.com; Photos by: Matthew Apgar