Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Senior Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Deerfield committee hears how TRIAD helps seniors with food and fuel while applications process
Summary
At a June 17 meeting, a guest described how TRIAD and volunteers coordinate food deliveries, use donor funds and the Greenfield Sheriff's Department for support, and temporarily cover fuel bills while state assistance forms (which can take two to four weeks) are processed; Pam Predmore will serve as liaison.
Sharyn Paciorek, a guest at the Ad Hoc Senior Housing Committee, described how TRIAD and volunteers help Deerfield seniors with food, heating fuel and other urgent needs during the committee’s June 17 meeting.
The committee asked Paciorek which income-eligibility forms TRIAD relies on and how residents receive assistance. Paciorek said TRIAD coordinates food deliveries and volunteer runs to locations such as the senior center and local food banks, relies on donor contributions, and works with the Greenfield Sheriff’s Department for additional support. “They don’t give them money,” Paciorek said of one part of the assistance process, describing how TRIAD covers essential bills temporarily while state forms process.
The committee pressed for details about emergency fuel assistance after members noted that state processing of fuel-aid forms can take two to four weeks. Paciorek said that when residents apply for oil assistance through the Senior Center, TRIAD may pay the bill in the interim so households do not run out of heat. She also said TRIAD directors coordinate with a network of volunteers and with local food banks to deliver groceries.
Committee member Pam Predmore volunteered to act as the group’s liaison to TRIAD, a move members said would help clarify intake procedures, referral pathways and whether additional volunteer support is needed if demand rises this winter. Predmore will report back on options for strengthening coordination with TRIAD and local partners.
The committee did not take formal action on funding changes at the meeting and asked staff and volunteer liaisons to return with any needed follow-up information at a future session.
