SWHRA delivers hope for the holidays
JACKSON, Tenn. – A community service center is helping to feed children while also spreading Christmas cheer to senior citizens who are homebound.
The Southwest Human Resource Agency provided services among generations Tuesday to deliver hope through Christmas cards to West Tennesseans.
As part of the at-risk after-school program, the agency provided meals to children during Christmas break.
Greg Long, the Resource Development Supervisor for SWHRA, says that they are searching for ways to provide meals to kids during the winter break. Long says during school hours they have access to meals, but for two weeks of a break, they wanted to ensure meals were provided.
The students were given a healthy meal and snack while also being able to decorate Christmas cards for senior citizens who are part of the Meals on Wheels program.
Long says when children come for meals there are activities planned that are fun and will teach something important or provide valuable information.
The meals also provide children with the necessary nutrients.
“All of the meals meet nutritional requirements by the USDA. Like, the shelf-stable meals will have six components,” Long said.
Long also clarified that at-risk does not define someone by their income.
The meals are provided to anyone enrolled in school from ages three to 19 who has extra-curricular or other activities after school that keep them during what would otherwise be dinnertime.
“It’s just a lot of joy watching the children do this and interacting with them. And hopefully knowing we can bring smiles to another generation by delivering the cards with the meals,” Long said.
The SWHRA provides a variety of services in 16 counties in the West Tennessee region.
To learn more about the services offered, click here.
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