Eastern Area Agency on Aging to benefit from Kindness Day

BREWER, Maine (WABI) - You may have heard that we’re teaming up this Thursday with Stanley Subaru and Stanley Chevrolet for “Kindness Day.”

We’re asking you to join us in making a difference in our community by supporting three community organizations.

One of them is Eastern Area Agency on Aging which helps older adults in four Maine counties.

Since the early 1970s, Eastern Area Agency on Aging has been striving to meet the needs of older adults in Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Washington counties.

Through the years, their services have expanded.

At the Durgin Center in Brewer, you can find a welcoming space for adults of all ages.

You can take exercise classes, enjoy a meal, and socialize with friends.

They also offer other programs that are helping enrich the lives of many of our community members.

“That can range from nutrition services like Meals on Wheels and supplemental food programs. We have a pet food program for those lower-income older adults to keep their pets at home. We have Medicare services which puts more money in their bank account each month. We are here to provide expertise on what those best programs are so they can make their dollar stretch a little bit longer,” said Christopher Hill, EAAA communication and development director.

Their biggest need right now is monetary donations for the Meals on Wheels Program. Last year, their volunteers delivered more than 215,000 meals to those in need.

“We get our food from a distributor, and then it gets dropped off at our distribution locations, and then we have volunteers that follow a very precise dietary guideline for each particular consumer. They pack meals according to that, and then those are the bags that get taken out by our drivers,” Hill explained.

The program is currently facing a $100,000 shortfall.

The agency says that’s due in part to the pandemic and what’s known as ‘shrinkflation.’ Many consumers are going to the grocery store and getting less for their buck.

“Nutrition is obviously super important for our older community members, and we want to try and feed our community as best we can,” Hill said.

More than 500 people rely on the Meals on Wheels Program.

“Aside from having those 500 consumers, we do have a waitlist of over 150 people, so that’s about 150 people in our service area that are unable to get the nutrition they need,” Hill said.

The agency says the program provides more than just a healthy, balanced meal.

“I talked to one individual from Washington County who struggles to get around. He can’t get out of the house. Not only are the meals great for him, but it’s the communication with the driver, the socialization that he gets from the driver. The driver comes in, does a welfare check to make sure he is doing well, helps around the house if there are small projects that he can do,” Hill said.

Just $45 provides one person meals for a week. Eastern Area Agency on Aging will graciously accept your donations on Kindness Day.

“$5, $10, doesn’t matter the denomination. On Kindness Day, we will be available here at the Durgin Center to receive those whether it is cash or check. We will have a credit card machine where people can donate, and then, of course, we have our website, EAAA.org/KindnessDay where you can donate online as well,” Hill said.