It’s just a kettle, albeit a really big one — 80 gallons, to be exact — kettle.
But it makes a world of difference to the aging issues of Brevard clients who receive food prepared in it for Meals on Wheels, Seniors for Lunch and other meal programs.
Unfortunately, the 17-year-old “steam-capped” appliance, which can cook everything from vegetables to meat to stews, is now toast. Due to its size and capacity, it cannot be replaced with just any old pot. And while the staff at Community Kitchen on Rosa L. Jones Boulevard in Cocoa also has 40- and 60-gallon kettles, they cook 1,500 meals to serve and deliver each weekday.
So there is an effort to raise money to cover the cost of a second, much-needed 80-gallon boiler. The old one cost $12,500 when new 17 years ago. Now, a new one will run as much as $28,000, said Tom Kammerdener, Aging Matters president and CEO.
The boiler going kaput could not have happened at a more financially inopportune time, he said.
A few weeks ago the kitchen ice machine broke. A replacement machine? A cold, hard $7,000, which means “in just two weeks, we’ll be out $35,000 for two pieces of equipment,” Kammerdener said.
“My managers didn’t want to give me the boiler news after spending so much on the ice machine,” he said.
“But the service man who comes to repair our equipment said, ‘Tom, this machine is beyond repair’ … he was concerned about possible problems with a gas leak that could not be repaired and was very dangerous. He told us that we should shut it down immediately.”
Vimari Monopoli, Aging Matters’ director of development, emphasized the urgent need in a post on social media.
“It is critical to our ability to produce nutritious, high-quality meals for the seniors we serve,” she wrote. “Combating food insecurity and isolation is what Meals on Wheels is all about.”
Plus, more food preparation work coming soon: Along with Meals on Wheels deliveries and meals for seniors at lunch sites throughout the county, the Community Kitchen also provides meals for day care centers for adults and children.
“In about a week, we will begin feeding our children in our summer lunch programs,” Kammerdener said. “That’s another 600 to 700 meals.”
There is no doubt that the need is significant, just look at the stories of the people signing up for food deliveries.
Back in April, Kammerdener approved help for a man named William, based on the agency’s “nutritional score rating,” which goes from a high of 5 to a low of 1. If a person comes in at a 5, it means “no matter where they is, even if there’s a waiting list, they’re automatically put on the program,” which provides one hot meal and one cold daily, Kammerdener said. Area counselors keep track of those in need, and as people drop out of the program for whatever reason, more are added.
William was a 5, Kammerdener said. He was down to 98 pounds and not doing well.
“He contacted us to tell us that he has gained over seven pounds in a short period of time and he is so happy,” Kammerdener said.
“We have volunteers who have found clients who have fallen and we were able to get them the attention they need — two in the past week. These stories happen all the time … we are so happy to be able to give them the help beyond just the meals.”
Britt Kennerly is the education/breaking news editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Kennerly at 321-917-4744 or [email protected]. Twitter: @bybrittkennerly Facebook: /bybrittkennerly.
How to help
For information on donating to Aging Matters in Brevard: agingmattersbrevard.org or 321-639-8770.
