Goosefoot kicks in for new Senior Services freezer

February 28, 2017 6:00 pm
Representatives from Senior Services of Island County and Goosefoot pose for a photo with a $35,000 check. The money will pay for a new freezer for Senior Services’ Meals on Wheels program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Nadine Zackirsson, Goosefoot Board vice president; Sandra Whiting, Goosefoot executive director; Wendy Gilbert, Senior Services board president; Cheryn Weiser, Senior Services executive director; and Marian Myszkowski, Senior Services program director.
Representatives from Senior Services of Island County and Goosefoot pose for a photo with a $35,000 check. The money will pay for a new freezer for Senior Services’ Meals on Wheels program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Nadine Zackirsson, Goosefoot Board vice president; Sandra Whiting, Goosefoot executive director; Wendy Gilbert, Senior Services board president; Cheryn Weiser, Senior Services executive director; and Marian Myszkowski, Senior Services program director.

Senior Services asked, Goosefoot delivered.

The non-profit group recently presented Senior Services of Island County with a $35,000 check to replace a busted walk-in freezer. The expensive piece of equipment is essential to Meals on Wheels, a program that supplies seniors with over 6,300 meals a month.

“Goosefoot is more than a good neighbor. They are supporting life-giving meals for the seniors of Whidbey Island,” said Senior Services of Island County Executive Director Cheryn Weiser, in a Friday news release. “Our organization deeply appreciates the extraordinary generosity of the Goosefoot board and staff. Thank you, Goosefoot!”

The old freezer, located at the South Whidbey Senior Center in Bayview, stopped working in late December. It was a hand-me-down from Naval Air Station Whidbey received more than 20 years ago.

The freezer was unsalvageable because its coolant is no longer manufactured, according to the news release.

Senior Services kept the Meals on Wheels program going by renting a refrigerator truck, but it was expensive; it had to be fueled daily costing $1,950 a month.

“We had to come up with an alternative and had to do it quickly to assure the food did not thaw,” Nutrition Director Debbie Metz said.

Senior Services turned to the public for help, asking for donations. Goosefoot responded.

“Now that The Goose Grocery is generating a profit, Goosefoot is able to return those profits back to our community,” said Goosefoot Executive Director, Sandy Whiting. “Senior Services’ appeal to the public for donations for the walk-in freezer was a perfect fit for our charitable giving program.”

The new freezer will provide an efficient, state of the art freezing unit, assuring the safe food preparation for Meals on Wheels and all six of the Whidbey Island meal sites, the news release said.