Blizzard Packs Made Possible by Local Students

Local Schools Help Collect Food and Assemble Blizzard Packs for Meals on Wheels of Syracuse

Because of the kindness and generosity of local students, Meals on Wheels of Syracuse, NY Inc. (MOWS) will now be able to distribute Blizzard Food Packs to their clients for emergency use in the event that severe winter weather disrupts their normal meal delivery.

This year, Blizzard Packs were at risk because funds normally provided by the Onondaga County Office for Aging for purchasing the prepared food packs were not available because of budget restrictions & greater meal service demands. Luckily, Mr. Jonathan Hawa an ELA teacher from Hughes Elementary approached MOWS looking for a community service project for his students. The task was a huge undertaking because they needed to collect enough prepared food items for a balanced nutritious meal for over 350 clients. Meals on Wheels Board Members, with contacts at Bishop Ludden, asked those school officials to see whether they would also do a similar collection to help achieve the lofty goal in tandem with Hughes Elementary.

“Together, all of these students have collected mass amounts of prepared entrees, cans of fruits and vegetables, healthy snacks, and fruit boxes that will be packaged and sealed-wrapped for distribution to our clients for a weather emergency. They have done a great job,” said Nancy Ranieri, Director of Community Relations.

High School students from Bishop Ludden will be on site at MOWS on Saturday, January 19th to help assemble and package the blizzard packs. They are planned for distribution to meal recipients the following week.