WPCNR MEDIC. From Jeremy Kasman, Meals on Wheels. September 28, 2003: The New York United Hospital Medical Center of Port Chester will begin supplying meals to Meals-on-Wheels of White Plains on Monday, September 29th. The former St. Agnes Hospital, the source of food for Meals-on-Wheels of White Plains for 25 years, is closing its doors.
“We are pleased to announce that meal delivery to our clients will continue uninterrupted,” said Jeremy Kasman, Executive Director, “We want everyone to know that Meals-on-Wheels of White Plains will be here after St. Agnes Hospital closes! We are very happy to say that the United Hospital kitchen will begin delivering meals to us beginning Monday. The volunteers of the Port Chester-Rye-Rye Brook Meals-on-Wheels highly recommended the food and service they currently receive from United to us.”
Sherice White, Operations Manager for Sodexho Health Care Services at United Hospital stated, “Our slogan is ‘Care without limits.’ Our services are not limited to Port Chester.” She has assured Meals-on-Wheels that all the special dietary needs of their clients will be met.
“The one major change for our clients and volunteers will be that we will be starting our delivery schedule 90 minutes later than we used to,” added Kasman. “There will be other changes in how we run our program, but with the help of our dedicated volunteers and fine staff at United Hospital in Port Chester we are facing nothing that we can’t handle. When additional funds are needed we will raise them. The community of White Plains has always been supportive of what we do here.”
St. Agnes Hospital served not only as the source of food, but also as the staging area for Meals-on-Wheels of White Plains volunteers to meet, get their instructions and load the meals, and for parking half the cars while pairs are out on routes. United Hospital will be delivering the meals to White Plains on a daily basis. Meals-on-Wheels has also been looking for a new staging area with nine or ten parking spaces, overnight storage and if possible access to electricity.
Kasman noted, “The staff at St. Agnes has devoted many years to doing their best for our clients, and we are saddened by the end of our partnership. For example, Paulette McKennon, a Dietary Aide, has been preparing and packaging meals for us for 22 years. We will miss her smile and the friendship of her co-workers very much.”
Meals-on-Wheels of White Plains will keep the public informed of our progress in facing this challenge and thanks all of our volunteers and supporters for their continued confidence in us. For more information about Meals-on-Wheels of White Plains, or to make a contribution to help log onto the Meals-on-Wheels Website at http://mysite.verizon.net/mealsonwheels.whiteplains/.
