Create the Good: Help Homebound Neighbors with a Blizzard Box

Many seniors rely heavily on daily home-delivered meals for their nutritional needs. A “blizzard box” provides homebound seniors with an emergency food supply in the event of a snow ‘blizzard’, flood, or other disaster.

With the help of community groups, Blizzard Boxes can be distributed through existing meal delivery systems, such as county senior centers, community churches, and local Meals on Wheels programs.

In states where snow can be a problem, it’s particularly important to assemble and distribute Blizzard Boxes from mid-September until Thanksgiving to prepare for winter. Your group can help by collecting single- serving, pre-packaged, canned or dried, non-perishable food items and packing them in boxes to create “blizzard boxes.” Local county aging programs, faith based groups, elementary schools, colleges and universities, civic organizations and businesses can be part of the effort.

You can furnish and deliver Blizzard Boxes to homebound senior citizens, people with disabilities and other needy individuals in your community. The Blizzard Box contains pre-packaged, single serving, shelf-stable meal supplies, is ideal for meal service during severe weather or whenever a meal cannot be provided as planned. The Blizzard Box can help ensure that the recipient is prepared for almost any emergency. Should inclement weather or disaster disrupt normal meal deliveries, the Blizzard Box can be used.

Local county aging programs are natural partners for the distribution and delivery of Blizzard Boxes. Also, because nutrition sites are located in local communities, they make logical collection locations. If you need help finding your local nutrition program, contact AARP West Virginia at wvaarp@aarp.org.

AARP chapters and volunteers, retired school employee groups, faith communities, civic organizations and other interested groups can collect, donate and contribute food items. Individuals can also “team-up” to supply necessary items to complete a Blizzard Box. Volunteers can help assemble the Blizzard Boxes, collect donated food supplies, bottled water and boxes. Shoe boxes, boxes used by restaurants, or other similar containers work well.

The following is an example of items that would minimally be included in a “Blizzard Box”:

• Lasagna, Pineapple/Orange Juice, Applesauce, Bottled Water, 1–2 ct. Pkg. Crackers
• Chili w/beans, Orange Juice, Fruit Cup, Bottled Water, 1–2 ct. Pkg. Crackers
• Vegetable Beef Stew, Tomato Juice, Raisins, Bottled Water, 1–2 ct. Pkg. Crackers
• Tuna w/mayo & relish, Apple Juice, Raisins, Bottled Water, 1–2 ct. Pkg. Crackers
• Spaghetti w/Meat sauce, Grape Juice, Mixed Vegetables, Oatmeal Cookie,
  Bottled Water

Remember, Create the Good!

We can all make a difference through service and volunteering.

For other community service opportunities, or to let others know about an opportunity, visit www.createthegood.org.