Big things are cooking at 821 Water Street in Hancock! Home of our Meals on Wheels kitchen, the building has been under renovation since February, and work is scheduled to wrap up in August.
While renovations have been underway, the work inside the kitchen hasn’t slowed down. Our small but mighty team of cooks creates more than 300 meals every morning. From roast beef dinners and chicken alfredo, to pannukakku and blueberry muffins, it’s all made in-house - and all the dishes are washed by hand.
Feeding that many people every day takes more than just dedication, it takes the right tools. For years, the kitchen had been in need of equipment upgrades, but that need became critical after the number of seniors served doubled in the past four years. Without modern equipment, staff spent countless hours dicing, chopping and rotating between working ovens and stovetops to cook.
Thanks to recent upgrades we’ve made, meal production has dramatically improved. Now, the same task can be completed in a fraction of the time. This has allowed us to incorporate more local ingredients into our menu. Unlike prepackaged foods, local food is unprocessed and requires more time to prepare. Upgrading the kitchen equipment was not only beneficial, but essential in our commitment to feeding local seniors local food.
And none of that is to mention the roof! The building’s roof had outlived its lifecycle, leading to the occasional need for a bucket to catch leaks. Fortunately, none of the affected areas stopped our team from serving seniors. We discussed the leaks with the Western UP Health Department during on-site health inspections, ensuring we had the green light to operate. We are happy to report that those days are now behind us, as the new roof was finished in early July.
The kitchen is just one part of a bigger transformation at 821 Water Street. Though the building has been the long-time hub for Meals on Wheels, the kitchen, offices and delivery bay only take up half of the usable space. In June of 2024, UP Health System – Portage donated the building and surrounding property to Copper Shores, allowing us to make plans for utilizing the entire building.
That donation couldn’t have come at a better time. Copper Shores employees are currently spread across five different offices and buildings in Houghton and Hancock. By making essential ADA and safety improvements, and bringing staff under one roof, we aim to provide more comprehensive services to our community. Centralizing our team will foster stronger collaboration across departments, helping us build a more connected and supportive environment for employees and the folks receiving our services.
To learn more about the work being done at Meals on Wheels to feed local seniors, sign-up for our free monthly Meals on Wheels email newsletter.