SAGE Seeks Pantry Items for the Holidays

The following was provided by SAGE Eldercare:

As the holidays approach, it’s a time to think of loved ones, as well as those in need.  For this Thanksgiving, SAGE Eldercare is seeking to stock its “Portable Pantry” with donated low-sodium soups, crackers, low-sugar fruit cups, juice boxes, peanut butter, canned tuna fish, and nutrition bars.

The Portable Pantry supports and expands SAGE’s existing emergency food supply into a mobile food pantry.  The Portable Pantry supplies and distributes 1,250 non-perishable meal boxes/bags to the most impoverished home-bound seniors living in parts of Union, Essex, and Morris Counties who are at risk of hunger and poor nutrition.

In addition to serving at-risk seniors, the pantry strives to maintain an on-site inventory of at least 250 meal kits accessible to seniors, caregivers, and healthcare providers.  In addition, the pantry also addresses the issue of isolation among this population.  By connecting trained volunteers with seniors, the Portable Pantry provides much-needed socialization while also serving as a liaison to SAGE staff, professional referrals, and other supportive services.

Portable Pantry donations are being collected now!  They can be dropped off in the lobby at SAGE Eldercare, 290 Broad Street, Summit.  For information on volunteer opportunities at SAGE, call908.598.5514, or visit www.sageeldercare.org.

SAGE Eldercare is a unique community resource that offers a comprehensive array of programs and services for older adults and caregivers, promoting independence and quality of life.  Founded in 1954, SAGE is one of the few non-profit eldercare agencies in the United States, and the oldest in New Jersey, that offers a broad and comprehensive array of services under one roof that assist elderly, often frail, adults to remain independent in their own homes. 

Programs at SAGE Eldercare include: HomeCare; Meals On Wheels; Spend-A-Day Adult Day Health Center; GPS (Guidance, Planning and Support) Services; InfoCare free information and referral service; Fall Prevention Initiative; Home Repair Service; Grocery Shopping and Errand Service; Bill Paying Service; Holistic Living Services; Alzheimer’s and PREP caregiver support groups; Community Education; and Union County Medicare SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program).  In addition, SAGE has operated a Furniture Restoration Workshop, run by volunteers who specialize in caning and rushing chairs and refinishing furniture, and a Resale Shop for more than 50 years.  Both provide essential funding that supports the organization’s programs and services for older adults in the community. 

SAGE Eldercare serves 7,000 people throughout Union, Essex, Morris and Somerset Counties, as well as across the United States.