The Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas has been awarded a $100,000 Walmart Foundation grant to provide 15 shelf stable meals to each home delivered meal client in Northwest Arkansas during the COVID19 pandemic. The grant was awarded to AAANWA and its contract provider Our Healthy Communities, Inc. Angie Dunlap, Director of Senior Center Services with AAANWA, said, "Walmart Foundation has supported our senior center program for many years. We are so pleased to have this additional support during the current heath crisis. This has been a difficult time for senior centers, and we are doing our best to keep our senior adults fed, safe and healthy."

The funding from the Walmart Foundation has allowed the senior centers in Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion, Newton, Searcy and Washington Counties to purchase three shelf stable meal packs that include 5 meals in each pack for each home delivered meal client. These shelf stable meals meet the nutritional guidelines of 1/3 of the recommended daily allowance of nutrients for senior adults. "Our senior centers are currently closed to the public but they are still providing much needed home delivered meals and curbside pickup meals each day. Without the generosity of Walmart Foundation, we would not have been able to purchase these shelf stable meals for the seniors to have in case we have to close one of our facilities due to COVID19. This funding has given us peace of mind as we work our way through this time and uncertainty. It is good to know that these senior adults that depend on us for nutritious meals will have access to food should we have to close a facility. Thank you, Walmart Foundation," stated Brad Bailey, Executive Director of AAANWA.

The Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas is a private, non-profit agency dedicated to enhancing the lives of senior citizens, helping them to remain independent, and advocating for the individual rights of those in long-term care facilities. The agency serves older people in nine counties of Northwest Arkansas including: Baxter, Boone, Benton, Carroll, Madison, Marion, Newton, Searcy and Washington Counties.