Thanks to recent Northwest Minnesota Foundation and NW Regional Sustainable Development Partnership (NWRSDP) grants, isolated seniors and individuals affected by COVID job loss have one less thing to worry about. Using a newly-developed University Minnesota Extension, "14 Day Meal Kit" template, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of the Red River Valley (RSVP of the RRV) has secured funds to implement and provide 7 Day Meal Kits for those most needy during and after the COVID-19-induced Stay at Home and social distancing directives.
RSVP partnered with small town grocers and RSVP volunteers (without compromised health issues) throughout the 7 County NW MN region to package and deliver non-perishable meal kit boxes at no cost to recipients. Food items chosen will be according to the 14 day meal kit guide produced by a UMN Extension team, and revised for a 7 day version. Meal kits, projected to feed one person for a week, will be assembled by participating local grocery stores and delivered to those in need by RSVP volunteers, keeping social distancing and the health and safety of clients and volunteers in mind. Volunteers will be COVID screened prior to any deliveries.
Ten meal kits are available within each County, and will be distributed on a first come first served basis, to seniors age 60 and older or to individuals of any age who have experienced job loss due to the current pandemic. Counties Included: Polk, Norman, Kittson, Roseau, Red Lake, Pennington and Marshall.
Community or family members, churches, nonprofit organizations, social service providers or individuals themselves may contact RSVP directly to request a meal kit. Please call or email Tammy Frohlich, RSVP Director, (tsykes@umn.edu; 218-281-8289) or Jennifer Erdmann, RSVP Coordinator (jkerdman@umn.edu; 218-289-3832) for more information or to request a 7 Day Meal Kit for yourself or someone you know.
About UMN Crookston
One of five campuses in the University of Minnesota System, the University of Minnesota Crookston cultivates curiosity by engaging students in hands-on learning connecting theory to practice. As the experienced leader in delivering education online, the Crookston campus offers a distinctive learning environment providing personal attention and mentorship to develop leaders, lifelong learners, and engaged citizens. Visit Crookston at umcrookston.edu
About UMN
The University of Minnesota System, with campuses in Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, and the Twin Cities, is driven by a singular vision of excellence. We are proud of our land-grant mission of world-class education, groundbreaking research, and community-engaged outreach, and we are unified in our drive to serve Minnesota. Learn more at system.umn.edu
