Emergency Food Boxes Help Hoodland Seniors Stay Prepared

Twice a year, the Hoodland Senior Center delivers emergency food boxes to all local Meals on Wheels participants, helping to ensure older adults are ready for the unexpected. The emergency food boxes contain non-perishable items like canned meats, hearty soups, grains, and bottled water, items seniors can rely on when roads are impassable or services are disrupted. From winter power outages to wildfire evacuations, living in a rural community means that we need to be prepared for extreme weather emergencies.

These food boxes, distributed each summer and winter, include shelf-stable meals and essential items designed to help seniors remain nourished for up to two weeks during emergencies. This effort directly supports Oregon’s “Be 2 Weeks Ready” initiative, which encourages residents to maintain a two-week supply of food, water, and critical items in case of disaster. Did you know that the recommended water to have on hand is one gallon per person, per day? 

Hoodland Senior Center staff and volunteers want to make sure that homebound seniors have what they need when access to food, internet, and transportation are suddenly cut off. Preparedness saves lives, especially in rural mountain communities.

In addition to food preparedness, local seniors can take advantage of free defensible space and debris removal services offered by Ant Farm, a nonprofit based in Sandy. Through its wildfire risk reduction program, Ant Farm helps seniors clear brush, limbs, and flammable debris from their properties — making homes safer during fire season. Seniors or caregivers can call 503-668-9955 or visit antfarmyouthservices.com to request debris removal services.

Together, the Hoodland Senior Center and Ant Farm provide a community safety net for local seniors, addressing both food security and wildfire preparedness. With the help of volunteers, donations, and local partnerships, these services continue to support independent living and peace of mind for older adults across Mount Hood’s communities, helping all of Hoodland’s seniors live life to the fullest.

For more information or to support these efforts, call Hoodland Senior Center at 503-622-3331.