Greenwood County Seniors to Benefit from New Kitchen at Piedmont Agency on Aging
As the sun rises over Greenwood County this morning, residents can expect a mix of clouds and sunshine with temperatures reaching around 75°F. However, clouds are predicted to increase, bringing showers this afternoon and turning into steady rain overnight. Anybody planning to step out should grab an umbrella and prepare for a 40% chance of rain later in the day.
Meet the Team Behind the Meals
One of the organizations busy meeting the needs of seniors in the area is the Piedmont Agency on Aging (PAA). Under the leadership of Tracey Bedenbaugh, the CEO of this nonprofit organization, there are ambitious plans on the horizon. PAA is determined to build a new, modern kitchen that will ensure they can continue to provide essential meal services through their popular Meals on Wheels program.
Currently housed at 111 Reynolds Park Drive in Greenwood County, PAA prepares and packages a staggering 850 meals every day. This has been a lifeline for many elderly individuals, especially those facing food insecurity. Bedenbaugh emphasizes just how critical these meals are by saying, “So many of them are food insecure and really can’t afford to buy their own food. This does at least get them one good meal a day.”
From Humble Beginnings to a Bright Future
Founded in 1971, the PAA has continually adapted to meet the needs of seniors in Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, and Saluda counties. The Meals on Wheels program delivers not just hot, nutritious meals right to seniors’ doors, but it also includes a thoughtful welfare check for each recipient. Thanks to a network of over 300 volunteers, this service is both reliable and responsive to the community’s needs.
Meals are carefully crafted under the guidance of a registered dietitian and include meat, two veggies, dessert, bread, and a drink. The menus rotate every three months to keep things fresh and exciting.
When the PAA first opened, they received meals from outside providers. By 1984, they had the foresight to renovate their Senior Center, creating their own kitchen, a rarity in the state at that time. They were preparing around 250 meals a day. Fast forward a few decades, and it’s clear that demand has skyrocketed. Now serving approximately 220,000 meals yearly, it’s clear the program has outgrown its current setup.
Plans for Expansion
Bedenbaugh is very clear about the necessity of expanding their kitchen facilities. “We need to expand, to grow,” she stated, echoing the demand for meals and services that has surged in recent years, particularly during the pandemic when meal deliveries increased significantly. The agency has already benefited from a handful of COVID-19 relief funds that helped them during those challenging times.
Currently, the kitchen sits just a two-minute drive away from the main building, a situation Bedenbaugh hopes to change. Moving the kitchen to the main site would help to “streamline the process” and expand their capacity. If they can secure a new kitchen space that is twice the size of the current setup, Bedenbaugh believes they could even serve between 1,500 and 2,000 meals a day.
Discussions about the new kitchen began back in September 2022, and blueprints are now finished. Although they’re still looking for additional funding, the hope is to break ground in mid-2025, with an estimated cost of more than $2 million.
How to Help Out
The community can contribute to this noble effort by donating towards the new kitchen, with gifts being designated expressly for that cause. Donations can be made online, marking “New Kitchen” in the memo line.
PAA is not just about meals; they also offer educational programs, recreational activities, transportation, and reassurance calls to seniors. They have been debt-free for about five years, providing a solid foundation for the upcoming expansion.
As Greenwood County gears up for more rain and cooler nights, the residents can feel a little warmer knowing dedicated organizations like the Piedmont Agency on Aging are tirelessly working to keep their elderly neighbors fed and cared for.
For more details and updates on how you can contribute, be sure to reach out to the agency directly.
