More than just a meal

More than just a meal...
June 2015
Meals on Wheels Closed July 3 & 4
The Meals on Wheels office will be closed on Friday,
July 3 and Saturday, July 4 in observance of
Independence Day.
We will send out frozen meals one week prior, on
Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27. Please call
the office at 398-3574 if you do NOT need a frozen
meal on either day.
Summer Food Safety: Steps You Should Know
The warmer weather conditions may be ideal for outdoor dining, but they also provide the perfect environment for bacteria and other
pathogens in food to multiply rapidly and cause foodborne illness. It’s especially important during warm weather to take extra precautions and practice safe food handling with perishable foods such as meat, poultry, seafood and egg products. Follow the suggestions
below to reduce the risk of foodborne illness this summer.
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Clean — Wash hands, utensils and surfaces with hot soapy water before and after handling food.
Separate — Keep raw meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood and their juices away from ready-to-eat foods. Never place cooked food on
an unwashed plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, eggs, or seafood. For example, cooked burgers should not go on the same
plate that held the raw hamburger. Use a clean plate, or wash the plate thoroughly in hot, soapy water before transferring the burgers.
Temperature — Monitor certain foods to make sure they’re cooked at the proper internal temperatures:
145 degrees Fahrenheit for fish (or until opaque and flakes easily with a fork)
160 degrees Fahrenheit for ground beef (until juices run clear), veal, lamb, pork, steaks and roasts (medium)
165 degrees Fahrenheit for ground turkey or chicken
170 degrees Fahrenheit for steaks and roasts (well done), and chicken breasts
180 degrees Fahrenheit for whole poultry
Eggs should also be cooked until both the yolk and white are firm.
Chill — Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared food, and leftovers within two hours. Make sure the refrigerator is set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, and the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit.
Additional information can be found at the Partnership for Food Safety Education Web site, http://www.fightbac.org
SOURCE: “Summertime Food Safety Precautions,” Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Last revised May 20, 2015. https://
www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/safety-tips/summerfood.htm
Meals On Wheels—Horizons, A Family Service Alliance, 819 5th Street SE, P.O. Box 667
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406
319.398.3574 www.horizonsfamily.org
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THOSE BORN IN JUNE!
Your Rights and Responsibilities
For nearly 50 years, we’ve been More
than just a meal… to the community. In
addition to delivering you a nutritious
meal daily, we provide a friendly visit to
make sure you are well, along with
access to Horizons’ other services,
including Mental Health and Consumer
Credit Counseling.
We also provide you the right to
services that are helpful and respectful
of your needs, such as:
 Being treated with courtesy and
respect.
 Receiving factual answers to your
questions.
 Making your own decisions about
program participation.
 Determining your meal contribution
level.
 Respecting your privacy and
confidentiality.
 The chance to appeal decisions
about service denial.
 Receiving information about other
services within Horizons and
throughout the community.
In return, we ask the following of you:
 To notify the office the day before if
you need to cancel meal delivery.
 To be home when your meal is
delivered. Drivers cannot leave meals
if you aren’t there unless
arrangements have been made
with the office beforehand.
 To report any changes in your phone
number, address, or name of
emergency contacts.
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To watch the television in the event of
inclement weather for an
announcement on whether Horizons
Meals on Wheels is delivering.
To support our drivers’ safety by
keeping pets secured and steps/
sidewalks clear when possible.
To treat our drivers with courtesy and
respect. Our driving pool consists
mainly of unpaid volunteers giving
their time to support your well-being.
Without them, we would have a
difficult time providing this service. If
you have any issues with your
delivery, please contact the office.
To complete and return required
forms to the office when requested.
To contact the office when you no
longer need our service, especially if
you are able to drive to our
congregate dining site, located at the
Oakhill Jackson Community Church,
1202 10th St. SE.
Your help in adhering to these policies
will allow us to continue offering this
service to those who need it most for as
long as possible. You may call with
questions anytime at 398-3574 (office
hours are 7am-3pm Monday through
Friday, but voicemail is available 24
hours a day).
Thank you for choosing our program to
meet your nutritional needs.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Meals on Wheels