Madison, WI (May 18, 2023) – SSM Health at Home is pleased to announce the Goodman Community Center as our contracted caterer, preparing delicious and nutritious Meals on Wheels for clients living in Madison, Middleton, and Monona.
In late January 2023, SSM Health at Home unexpectedly and abruptly lost their Meals on Wheels caterer. With help from our community, including Goodman Center, the program was able to regroup quickly, resuming delivery to our most vulnerable clients within 48 hours and all recipients within eight days. Over the past few months, Goodman Center has been ramping up production taking over routes from our other short-term caterers. Starting this week, they will be at full capacity, preparing over 300 mid-day meals Monday – Friday for Meals on Wheels recipients.
“The Goodman Center is thrilled to partner with SSM Health to provide healthy lunches to people across our area through the Meals on Wheels program,” says Letesha Nelson, Goodman Center CEO. “At Goodman, we already prepare daily meals for our preschool and 4K, older adult, and after-school programs. This is a natural addition to and expansion of that work.”
With the addition of Meals on Wheels to their already robust in-house meal programs, Goodman Community Center will be doubling its daily meal output. To meet the needs of Meals on Wheels recipients, they have added additional kitchen staff and are utilizing new equipment for meal packaging.
“We are incredibly grateful for the community support we have received during this challenging time. Goodman Community Center stepped up immediately to help us get meals to our most vulnerable clients within 48 hours,” says Sarah Karleskint, SSM Health at Home Meals on Wheels Program Manager. “They have been working hard to get up to full capacity as quickly as possible. Goodman is already working with Dane County’s nutritionist to prepare high-quality meals for the people they serve, so this partnership is a natural fit and will greatly benefit our clients.”
SSM Health at Home would also like to thank The River Food Pantry, Gaylord Catering Service, Inc., and TNT’s Catering & Event Services for stepping up to the plate so quickly to help us continue to provide meals for our recipients while we worked toward a permanent solution. It is a testament to our community that so many came forward to help.
Goodman Community Center would like to thank Smart Motors. Smart Motors quickly and generously donated a van that will allow the program to transport Meals on Wheels to volunteer pick-up sites, stepping up when help was needed most.
