Metro Atlanta
Cobb receives innovation grant for senior centers
A $6,000 grant will be used at three Cobb senior centers for new programs regarding mental health and food preparation. AJC file photo
By Carolyn Cunningham
Feb 3, 2020Cobb Senior Services has been awarded a $6,000 grant by the Board of Trustees of the Thanks Mom & Dad Grant Fund and 10 free air fryers by Amazon.
No local match is required.
To fund innovative programs for senior citizens, the $6,000 award will be distributed to three neighborhood senior centers at $2,000 each.
- The Austell Senior Center plans to implement a new mental health program by providing training to staff for Mental Health First Aid which teaches risk factors, warning signs and strategies for crisis and noncrisis situations.
- The Marietta Senior Center will pilot a Campus Dining program to reduce food insecurity among older adults by offering meal vouchers in a nontraditional setting. An additional benefit of this program will be reducing loneliness by encouraging connections between Life University students and older adults in Cobb.
- The North Cobb Senior Center will help older adults simplify meal preparation with a new program called "Cool Kitchen Gadgets and Hacks." Older adults will be taught about assistive technology in the kitchen, increasing their amount of fresh food intake, limiting canned and frozen meal preparation and promoting independence. Also for this program, Amazon has donated 10 air fryers with an approximate value of $700.
Not renewable, the $6,000 grant is a single award that will be used through Dec. 31.
Information: CobbCounty.org/public-services/senior-services
