Duke Energy Foundation Awards COVID-19 Hunger Relief Grant
Santee Lynches Regional Council of Governments
2525 Corporate Way, Suite 200
Sumter SC 29154
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT
Janae Stowe, (803-774-1376)
April 29, 2020 Sumter, SC – For Immediate Release
Santee-Lynches COG awarded grant funds by the Duke Energy Foundation to assist Kershaw County Council on Aging and Lee County Council on Aging with the cost of delivering meals to seniors.
SUMTER, SC – Santee-Lynches COG received grant funds from the Duke Energy Foundation to assist with the cost of delivering meals to Seniors during COVID-19. Kershaw County Council on Aging received $1,000 and Lee County Council on Aging received $1,000.
This funding will be utilized to support emergency home-delivered meals to vulnerable and homebound seniors aged 60 years or older. Many in this population normally eat daily meals at a congregate site, but due to the Coronavirus all sites have been closed to the public, which makes the acquisition of these meals even more critical to the affected seniors.
This grant was necessary due to the current contracted meal provider was unable to meet the high demand across the state to deliver emergency frozen meals caused by the current pandemic. Santee-Lynches COG secured an alternate meal provider for meals to ensure no interruption of service to the regional seniors, which resulted in a higher unit rate per meal. The higher rate would have placed an additional burden on the Councils on Aging.
The funding led to an order of 720 frozen meals in Kershaw County and 910 meals in Lee County which will feed 163 seniors. The Area Agency on Aging Director, Janae Stowe stated, “We are extremely grateful that we received the grant from Duke Energy. This funding will help provide both the nourishment and safe social-distancing as we continue serve our senior populations in Kershaw and Lee Counties.”
ABOUT SANTEE-LYNCHES REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments is a premier organization committed to equipping our communities to achieve their full potential. Our mission is to deliberately collaborate purposely to enhance the quality of life and provide opportunities to advance our region. Santee-Lynches serves the counties and cities of Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee, and Sumter. The learn more, visit santeelynchescog.org. Santee-Lynches COG is a member of the South Carolina Councils of Government (SC COGs). The SC COGs are a network of the 10 regional councils of governments working to positively affect quality of life and economic development in South Carolina. SC COGS serve as an extension of local and county governments to provide technical assistance, secure state and federal dollars to address critical issues, and advocate at a state and national level for economic and quality of life improvements for South Carolina. To learn more, visit santeelynchescog.org.