The Lunch Box
The Lunch Box at Box Butte General Hospital provides three meals a day to inpatients and other extended-stay patients throughout the hospital. Outside of that, The Lunch Box participates in the Meals on Wheels program with the help of volunteers, and also provides daily lunch options for employees and visitors! The purpose of the Meals on Wheels program is to provide warm, nutritious meals to persons in Alliance who are shut in at home or physically unable to obtain food or prepare it for themselves. Therapeutic meals are also offered, with dietary needs followed as per a primary care provider's instructions. Meals are delivered by community volunteers or hospital employees if needed.
How to get signed up for Meals on Wheels:
If a recipient is interested in receiving delivered meals paid for by the Department of Health and Human Services the recipient must first complete an application for the Social Services for the Aged and Disabled Program. This may be done by contacting Access Nebraska at 1-800-383-4278, by going to a local office, or by going online to http://dhhs-access-neb-menu.ne.gov/start/?tl=en to complete an application. Once an application is obtained a worker will contact the recipient to determine eligibility. If it is determined that the applicant is indeed eligible, authorizations will then be created for the recipient to start receiving delivered meals.
Meals on Wheels Volunteers
Volunteers are always welcome to help deliver meals to residents participating in the program. Here is what to expect as a volunteer:
Meals are ready for pick up at the BBGH kitchen at 11 a.m., with the easiest access being the main entrance. Dietary Staff will have the meals in a cooler and another tray of cold items loaded, both onto a cart, which the volunteer will wheel to his or her car. After loading the vehicle, the cart is left to the side, away from the entrance. When the volunteer returns from their deliveries, they are asked return the cart, cooler and tray to the kitchen.
Please contact 308.762.4357 Ext. 3360 to inquire how you can help deliver warm, nourishing meals to residents needing this service.