PARTNER PROFILE:
HESSCO Meals on Wheels/League School Partnership is a Win-Win
For over 10 years, the League School has partnered with HESSCO (Health and Social Services Consortium) Meals on Wheels to provide vocational training for students. During that period, over 30 students have worked for the organization, gaining valuable skills and experience in the process including:
- Teamwork
- Food services
- Communication
- Sanitation and safety
“We’ve enjoyed a longstanding partnership with the League School and we value the work the students do,” said Jayne Davis, HESSCO’s Nutrition Director. Established in the 1970s, HESSCO is a private not-for-profit organization affiliated with the state’s Executive Office of Elder Affairs with additional funding from the federal government and private contributions. HESSCO covers 12 communities from Dedham to the north, Millis to the west, Plainville to the south, and Canton to the east. Elderly services include health insurance help, caregiver support, and financial and legal assistance.
HESSCO’s nutrition program provides home delivery of hot meals to 500-600 older residents per day.These residents are age 60 or over, homebound, and unable to cook and prepare food. HESSCO also serves meals in community centers, such as senior centers and senior housing facilities.
The League School students deliver meals to home-bound seniors and serve meals at Norwood, Sharon, and Walpole HESSCO centers. Other jobs include:
- Packaging food
- Labeling meals destined for homes with food content, nutrition, and heating instructions
- Washing dishes and cleaning up after group meals
- Monthly donation statement folding and envelope stuffing
“The students are learning valuable skills that they can apply to the restaurant industry and other vocations after graduation,” says Ms. Davis. “The seniors love interacting with the students, and our staff values their contributions.”