STHS food and nutrition director praises work of Amigos Del Valle

MCALLEN, Texas - The director of food and nutrition for South Texas Health System in McAllen has praised the work of Amigos Del Valle.Patrick Woodin said the nonprofit serves about 5,000 people with its meals-on-wheels service at any one time in Hidalgo, Cameron and Starr counties. However, he feels sure the demand for nutritious meals is much greater than that. “Amigos Del Valle is a great organization,” Woodin said. “It is an organization that provides meals on wheels. It is a federal program. So long as you are 60 years old they will take you three square meals a day, balanced meals that follow federal guidelines.”Woodin praised ADV during an interview at a recent STHS symposium on diabetes. He was asked about the Rio Grande Valley’s so-called “food deserts,” areas in the region where people that do not have their own vehicle cannot access a grocery or supermarket because there is no public transportation.Woodin said food deserts can be overcome through groups like ADV.“If you do not have access to get the food, there is the ability of organizations to take the food to the individuals. So, take advantage of that program. I think they are only serving 5,000 meals locally. I am sure there is the potential to serve hundreds of thousands,” Woodin said.According to its website, ADV has operated for 46 years and has assisted approximately 110,422 seniors through the provision of 15,758,697 meals, with 12,800,965 of the meals delivered to the homes of Valley seniors.Woodin said communications problems are to blame for people not accessing groups like ADV.“People do not realize. All you have to be is 60. Let’s say you are 60 and your spouse is 50, your spouse qualifies for that program through you. Not a lot of people know about it.” In the attached podcast, Rio Grande Guardian International News Service editor Steve Taylor interviews Woodin and Lesley Garcia, registered dietitian for STHS-McAllen.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.