Grant funds allow council on aging to buy rolling food cabinet.

Grant funds allow council on aging to buy rolling food cabinet.

HART – The Oceana County Council on Aging (OCCOA) has some exciting changes coming up within the next few months, and the organization is not just talking about its much-anticipated move to a new building.

For the second year in a row, thanks to a Building Healthy Communities grant coordinated by District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) from Health Department of Northwest Michigan, OCCOA received $1,000 to enhance the health and wellness of those who enjoy the council on aging.

Building Healthy Communities looks to help local organizations create a sustainable healthy behavior, environmental, or policy change that increases healthy foods offered and provides education on healthy lifestyles and choices.

DHD#10 partnered with OCCOA to assess their current food environment and develop an action plan to implement a sustainable change. With the approval of their action plan, the OCCOA was able to purchase a mobile rolling food and storage cabinet to enhance its breakfast bar and meal program serving capacity as well as allow for additional food preparation and demonstration space for healthy food programming to seniors.