Our Featured Site: The WCCOA Production Kitchen

The WCCOA Production Kitchen opened in January 2007 on E. Gypsy Lane Rd. in Bowling Green. The site is a central location, preparing meals for all seven senior centers as well as for the home-delivered meal clients throughout Wood County.

WCCOA Driver, Nikki Brooks

Prior to 2007, all of the meals were produced at the Wood County (Bowling Green) Senior Center. As our client base grew, the need for a larger production kitchen arose. Through a combination of funds from the State of Ohio and private donations, WCCOA was able to construct a state-of-the-art kitchen.

WCCOA Cook, Joe Hrabovsky

The 5,400 square foot space is specially designed to aid in the food preparation, food storage, packaging, and delivery of meals. The drive-through loading and delivery area allows staff and volunteers to easily pick up and drop off meals and supplies.

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A total of 195,814 meals were prepared in 2015. An average of 850 meals are prepared at the kitchen each day.

WCCOA Director of Food Service,
Angie Bradford

The kitchen is staffed by ten permanent staff, led by Director of Food Service, Angie Bradford, as well as numerous volunteers, students, community residents, and others.

Each day, older adults at each of the seven congregate sites, as well as the home-delivered meals clients, are offered a choice of two entrees. Each meal meets federal guidelines for nutrition and portion size, and is approved by a registered dietician. The suggested donation for a meal is $2 for older adults (age 60 and over).

For more information on our meal program, and our other programs and services, contact us at (419) 353-5661 or (800) 367-4935 or go to our website at www.wccoa.net.

Home-delivered meal prep area

Walk-in freezer

"Hot Shot" trucks with hot and cold compartments

The February Recipe

Stuffed Pepper Soup

Serving Size 1 cup

Servings 5

1#                       Ground Chuck

1 qts                    Hot Water

1-20 oz  can        Tomato Sauce

1-20 oz can         Diced Tomatoes, undrained

3/4 cups              Uncooked Instant Rice

1 cup                   Diced Green Peppers

1/8 cup                Brown Sugar

To taste               Beef Bouillon

To taste               Black Pepper

Cook beef until brown, drain. Stir in remaining ingredients; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 40 minutes or until peppers are tender, rice is soft and temperature is 165 degrees.

WCCOA Partners with PBA

In 2015, the Wood County Committee on Aging, Inc. became a partner agency for Prevent Blindness America.   Seniors in need of eye exams or eye glasses that would not otherwise be able to afford them can now apply for these services at the Wood County Committee on Agency, Inc., 305 N. Main Street, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402.

Prevent Blindness America was started in 1908 with a single vision of preserving sight and preventing blindness.  They are the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight.  Prevent Blindness America touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, and certified vision screening training, community and patient service programs and research.

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In adults, the most common eye diseases are cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.  Vision disorders and impairment are major public health problems.  It is estimated that by 2030, the number of blind and visually impaired people will double if nothing is done to curb this growth through prevention, early detection and treatment.

To determine if you are eligible for a free eye exam and eyeglasses, contact the Social Service Department at the Wood County Committee on Aging, Inc. at (419) 353-5661 or (800) 367-4935.  Staff will assist you in completing an application and submitting it to Prevent Blindness America to determine eligibility for services.

AARP Tax Aide

A reminder that the AARP sponsored tax assistance program will be available Wednesday afternoons and Thursday mornings beginning February 3 until April 7 at the Wood County Senior Center, 305 North Main St., Bowling Green, OH. These are AARP trained & certified volunteer counselors.

NOTE: Please bring the following to your

appointment:

· Social security card (s) and photo ID (s)

· All forms showing income

· A copy of your 2014 income tax return

· Expense Records (medical, state and local taxes, real estate taxes, mortgage interest contributions, etc.) are important especially if you itemize. NOTE: especially large medical expenses may help for State taxes even if you do not itemize 

      deductions.

· Affordable Care Act documents

· If any assets were sold we need to know the cost, basis, and date of purchase of the asset.

· Voided Check if you want electronic refunds

Confidentiality is required of all tax counselors and preparers. You are required to arrive 20 minutes early to your appointment in order to fill out the required

paperwork. You must have ALL documents listed

above with you on the day of your appointment.  No

farm income tax or business income tax will be

handled at these appointments. 

For an appointment call the Program Department at

419.353.5661 or 800.367.4935