FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 14, 2018
GLENPOOL, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Elderly Nutrition Program invited its program participants to attend the Elderly Nutrition Annual Food Show at the Glenpool Conference Center Sept. 12, 2018.
More than 175 elders attended the show and tried out new foods and dishes from nine different vendors including shrimp, calamari, pot roast, desserts and other meats and side dishes.
The Food Show, which now takes place twice a year in the Spring and Fall, is a collaboration between the MCN program and its food distributor, Sysco, that brings in the different products available for purchase.
MCN Food Distribution Services Director Anna Sterner said the show is an opportunity to change up the weekly lunch menu, as well as get the elders’ feedback on the different foods they like and dislike before placing a large order.
“Some of the elders they might think certain foods are too spicy or something and so we try to incorporate their feedback before we order that way we aren’t buying items they may not care for or aren’t going to eat,” Sterner said.
When the participants arrive to the show, they are given a survey booklet that allows the elders to vote “Yes” or “No” on the items presented by each vendor, as well as a comment section.
The event brings in the help of MCN Elderly Nutrition employees from all 10 of the centers throughout the MCN jurisdiction to serve the 175 attendees, which is only a fraction of the Nation’s program participants.
Sterner said each month, the 10 nutrition sites combined serve between 11,000 and 12,000 meals to citizens and other Federally-Recognized tribal members within the MCN communities.
The MCN Elderly Nutrition Centers are located in Bristow, Coweta, Wetumka, Dewar, Muskogee, Sapulpa, Eufaula, Okemah, Holdenville and Okmulgee, Okla.
The program’s 10 locations provide free meals Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for elders 55 years of age or older and have a Certified Degree of Indian Blood card.
To participate in the program, elders must provide a copy of their CDIB card and complete an intake form.
A detailed list of the program guidelines and additional information can be found on the Elderly Nutrition Program website at: //www.muscogeenation.com/services/elderly-nutrition/ or by contact the program’s main number at 918-549-2600.
The website also lists the address and contact number for each nutrition center.
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