Border Area Nutrition Council (B.A.N.C)

The Border Area Nutrition Council (B.A.N.C.) provides essential meals, transportation, and recreational services to eligible elderly person over 60 years of age who reside in the geographically incorporated area of the City of Laredo and Webb County. B.A.N.C. serves its eligible congregate participants at twelve senior centers strategically located throughout the city of Laredo, plus three rural senior centers located in Mirando City, Oilton (which also serves Bruni) and Rio Bravo (serving El Cenizo, as well). These centers are specifically located to target the eligible elderly persons with the greatest economic and/or social needs. B.A.N.C. also provides home delivery meal services to eligible participants who lack the ability, knowledge, mobility, or mental capacity to obtain adequate nutrition. Nutritious and well-balanced meals are prepared at a central kitchen, supervised by a kitchen supervisor, and are then loaded onto two (2) food transporters, and delivered to the respective senior centers for serving at noon. Likewise, three delivery drivers package and deliver home-delivered meals to qualified home-delivery meal recipients.

History

Border Area Nutrition Council, Inc. was founded on January 2, 1985 under sponsorship of the South Texas Development Council. B.A.N.C. Was incorporated on January 23, 1985 and operates as a 501(C)(3) private, non-profit organization with a volunteer Board of Directors and an Executive Director.

Purpose

The organization’s purpose is to provide essential meal, transportation, and recreational services to eligible elderly clients over 60 years of age who reside in the geographically incorporated area of the City of Laredo and Webb County.

Mission

B.A.N.C.’s mission is simple: to provide essentially needed services to as many eligible elderly clients as it possibly can. By doing so, the organization intends to provide a happier, healthier lifestyle to our elderly population. Its principal source of funding is the Texas Department on Aging with additional financial and in-kind support from the City of Laredo and Webb County.

Logistics

B.A.N.C. serves its eligible population at various senior centers strategically located throughout the city of Laredo, plus two rural senior centers located in Mirando City (serving Oilton and Bruni) and the City of Rio Bravo (serving El Cenizo as well). These centers are specifically located to target eligible populations with the greatest economic and/or social needs. The organization also provides home delivery meal services to eligible participants who lack the ability, knowledge, mobility, or mental capacity to obtain adequate nutrition. Nutritious and well-balanced meals are prepared at a central kitchen, packaged, and delivered throughout the Laredo and Webb County area.

Social Activities

Besides providing meal services participants also partake in social activities and are provided with curb-to-curb transportation to and from their homes to social activity events, grocery shopping, payment of bills, medical appointments, and a variety of other destinations. All services are provided five (5) days out of the week (Monday-Friday), two-hundred and fifty days out of the fiscal year, legal holidays excluded. A project director and an office clerk manage B.A.N.C.’S administrative office located at 1002 Dickey Lane, Laredo, Texas 78043.

Program Requirements

B.A.N.C.’s services are free of charge to its qualified participants over 60 years of age. Suggested voluntary contributions of $5.00 for congregate meals and $6.00 per person for home-delivered meals are collected each month. Services are not and will not be denied because of lack of contributions by any participant.

To qualify for congregate meal services, applications must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be 60 years of age or older and/or the spouse of someone 60 years of age or older

To quality for home-delivered meals, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be 60 years of age or older and or the spouse of someone 60 years of age or older
• Must be determined to be home-bound via TDHS form 2060, person-to-person interview and priority of need.

Procedures

Applicants must provide a social security card, proof of age, and proof of citizenship or legal residency.