The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a $750,000 grant to implement what could very well be a lifesaving service, We Care, through Sussex County’s Meals on Wheels program.

 The grant, awarded to CHEER Senior Services, La Red Health Center and Educational Health Resources International (EHRI), the nonprofit arm of Nationwide Healthcare Services at the Milford Wellness Village, will give the three groups the opportunity to work together to provide wellness checks with medical follow-up to homebound seniors who receive food from Meals on Wheels. Together, they will receive a third of the grant each year for three years to ensure program stability as they begin, officials said.

A cross-disciplinary team from the University of Delaware– Allison Karpyn (CRESP), Julia O’Hanlon (Biden School) and Elizabeth Orsega-Smith (Behavioral Health and Nutrition)–will partner as program evaluators.