ARAMARK Helps Seniors Stay Healthy in St. Paul
Establishes health and wellness hub at West 7th Community Center
Today, ARAMARK created an ARAMARK Building Community Opportunity Zone for seniors and the community at the West 7th Community Center, giving residents of the neighborhood better access to fresh food and nutrition resources, plus improved spaces for physical activity.
West 7th Community Center is a member of the Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC), a network of 80 community centers supporting 315,000 residents across the Twin Cities. ARAMARK has partnered with MACC since 2009 through the company’s strategic philanthropic and volunteer program, ARAMARK Building Community, which enriches lives by helping people improve their health, secure jobs, and move out of poverty.
Volunteers at West 7th built a community garden to grow fresh produce, and fruits and vegetables from the garden will contribute to the center’s Meals on Wheels program, providing housebound seniors with options for fresh foods. Produce from the gardens will also be available to community members of all ages so that lower-income residents can enjoy healthy eating. Volunteers donated gardening supplies to help center staff and the seniors with the ongoing maintenance and expansion of the garden.
In addition to the garden, ARAMARK employees created an inspiring activity space in the gymnasium with murals, logos and storage bins, and make improvements to classrooms and the senior center where nutrition programs can take place.
