A time to to dine, socialize
As an old-time musician who plays a teapot and performs for seniors and schoolchildren, Hazel Lauritzen needs all the energy she can get.
“When I’m home, I don’t eat too much, but I have to keep my strength up because I belong to a kitchen band,” said Lauritzen, who is in her 80s.
On Friday, the widow visited with friends as she dined on a nutritious turkey-rice casserole at the Spokane Valley Senior Center.
Last month, the center added three additional days of meal service, giving seniors the opportunity to eat there Monday through Friday.
Entrees and side dishes that seniors receive are prepared by Aramark, a food service company.
The Spokane Regional Health District’s Senior Nutrition Program picks up the tab for two days a week’s worth of meals.
The additional three days of lunches are paid for by Spokane Valley Meals on Wheels, which is looking for grants and private donations to support the program long-term.
Seniors make reservations for lunch and, if they can afford to, pay a couple of dollars each in suggested donations. Van service for $3 is offered by the Spokane Valley Foundation, which raises money through its weekend bingo games to pay for senior programs.
Offering meals at neighborhood sites encourages seniors to socialize and ensures that they get the vitamins they need to stay healthy, said Pam Almeida, director of Meals on Wheels.
Providing food at collective locations helps Meals on Wheels serve more people and lower costs because it’s less expensive than individually packaging foods that are home delivered.
“We’re looking at the future and how we can set ourselves up to meet the growing need,” said Almeida.
Demand for senior meals has increased by 43 percent in the past three years and Almeida said the program’s goal is to expand lunch service to more neighborhood sites.
Martin “Jim” Painter, 81, enjoys the meals because they offer a variety of entrees, fruits and vegetables that seniors rarely get if they are cooking for one or two people. Plus, he explains, the portions are usually the perfect size.
“There have been a couple times I’ve gone back for seconds. Most of the time I get plenty.”
Opportunity Presbyterian Church also offers lunches five days a week, with meals and funding provided by the Health District and Valley Meals on Wheels.
Toni Crowe, site manager, said about 30 seniors eat at the church daily, although there’s room for 50 more.
On four of those days, guests are treated to bingo, bunko and “Let’s Make a Deal.” They also play a live version of “The Price is Right,” where seniors try to guess the price of an item without going over.
“We have a great time,” Crowe said. “The advantage of the program is they have a sound nutritional meal five days a week.”
Evie McCarty, site manager for the Spokane Valley Senior Center, knows her lunch crowd by name and introduces newcomers to the regulars.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the center serves up to 80 people for lunch. On the three expanded days, the group has grown to about 20 people.
After a stroll around the dance floor Friday, Katie Dobson, 86, sat down and dined with some friends.
“I’m already here. Why go home and fix a meal for one?”
Dobson, a widow who enjoys laughter and conversation, said the lunches give her a nice break from dining alone. “It’s been very nice and the food is just right.”