EDWARDSVILLE — Thanks to the second round of CARES Act Funding from Madison County for public service agencies, Main Street Community Center is once again able to offer free meals, food and other supplies to local seniors.
Jennifer Jackstadt, the nutrition coordinator for MSCC, is coordinating the Madison County Cares Grant program to deliver monthly supplies and food to 100 seniors in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon.
MSCC was among the agencies that applied for federal virus relief funds to be distributed through Community Development Block Grant funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act. Funds were distributed throughout Madison County.
This is the second time that MSCC has received a $20,000 COVID relief grant. The first grant program started last November and provided six months’ worth of weekly food bags for clients in the center’s meals program and people living in the May Building and paid for their lunches five days a week as well.
The second grant program, which started in July, will offer a mix of food items and other supplies to seniors. Deliveries are typically in the month’s third week, and pickup at the center is also available.
“Last month our meals clients received laundry supplies including a laundry basket,” Jackstadt said. “We had a lot of volunteers and sponsors helping us out and Bank of Springfield did a lot of the deliveries. We have about 20 people at the center and some people at the May Building who get commodity food boxes and those people are also getting the food and supplies.
“This month our clients will be getting some kitchen pantry staples and we’ll try to do food every other month. One month could be first aid supplies or paper goods and we may include self-care items like lotions and razors.”
For MSSC Executive Director Sara Berkbigler, the CARES grant offers another way to assist the center’s clients.
“This is a big help to us and it’s a big help to all of the seniors we are able to serve through the program,” Berkbigler said. “With rising expenses and the cost of living going up, we hope that this will help them through the next six months. They can use these supplies and food to offset their other expenses.”
Being able to deliver meals, food items and other supplies also means that the center’s clients don’t have to leave their homes to get those items, keeping them safer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The meals are very important as well and the county was very interested in that part of the program,” Berkbigler said. “It lets our folks at home know that we’re still in the midst (of the pandemic) and we are here to support them and try to make things as normal as possible.”
Main Street is also using some of the grant money to provide four more free meals for seniors, usually around holidays.
“The holiday meals are not only for our meals program clients but also for other seniors in the community,” Jackstadt said. “We did one meal for Independence Day on July 2 and our next one will be around Labor Day (Sept. 6). We also hope to have a free meal sometime in October as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas.”
Jackstadt noted that 96 people are currently signed up for the Madison County CARES Grant program, leaving four spots still open.
“If you know of any elderly people in Madison County that could use this service, please let us know,” Jackstadt said. “We can get them on the list for pickup or delivery. “
Main Street Community Center is located at 1003 N. Main St. in Edwardsville. For more information about the CARES Grant program, call 618-656-0300 or visit mainstcc.org.
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August 04, 2021 at 06:41PM
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Main Street Community Center offers free necessities to 100 seniors - The Edwardsville Intelligencer
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