11/9/2009 10:57:00 PM
Chino Valley seniors' hot lunch is back on Fridays
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Salina Sialega/Special to the Courier
Volunteer Tom Payne serves lunches Friday at the Chino Valley Senior Center to Lynette Bjornstad, right, and Adawna Saapo, during a "soft opening" practice run of the Friday lunches that will begin Nov. 13. |
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Fifty Chino Valley seniors got a taste Friday of what they can expect in the hot meals every Friday at the Chino Valley Senior Citizens Center, starting this week.
Al Bjornstad, a senior who was at the soft opening of the Friday meals said, "I will be here Friday (Nov. 13). I look forward to it because they are going to have a conglomeration of restaurants here."
Lynette Bjornstad, another senior present Friday, said the Friday meals are great because they "give us a chance to have a delicious hot meal and socialize with other seniors."
Since July 3, Chino Valley seniors have not had hot meals at the Senior Citizens Center. Town staff cut the Friday hot meals to help balance the town's current budget. On July 1, the town's staff began its four-day workweek. As a result, the Senior Citizens Center was one of the town buildings to close on Fridays.
Bjornstad said since June they have had cold meals at home.
Starting this Friday, the Chino Valley Foundation for Seniors will be providing hot meals at the Senior Citizens Center from area restaurants for $4 a meal.
Harvey Jones, who was on the Senior Citizens Center Advisory Board at that time, said he didn't think it was right that seniors shouldn't have a hot meal on Fridays. So, after his term on the advisory board expired June 30, he and five other people formed the non-profit foundation. The purpose of the group, he said, is to look out for the needs of seniors in Chino Valley.
The foundation's first goal was to get hot meals at the Senior Citizens Center on Fridays.
Jason Kelly, Parks and Recreation and Senior Services director, said the town signed an agreement with CVFS to lease the Senior Citizens Center to it at no cost because CVFS is providing Chino Valley residents a service.
He said the center is being leased from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jones said lunch is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This gives the restaurants that are providing the lunches time to set up, he said. Then, afterward the seniors have time to socialize before heading home.
Jones said it took the foundation's board awhile to incorporate and get its bylaws set up. The board also had to raise some money for incorporation and insurance. The town requires CVFS to have a $1 million insurance policy.
Then, it took awhile to get restaurants lined up to provide the meals. "We went to vendors who can deliver the meals because the foundation can't use the center's kitchen," Jones said. Currently, they have the first 12 weeks lined up.
For the first meal Friday, the Bonn Fire restaurant, CD's Café and Casa Grande Mexican Food, all from Chino Valley, will provide the food. The Prescott Play Boys will be serenading the seniors and dignitaries who show up for the Nov. 13 meal. Jones expects between 70 and 80 people at the lunch.
On Nov. 20, Liz Sosa from The Lunch Box will provide a lunch of spaghetti and meatballs, salad and garlic bread.
Jones said members of several of the town's service clubs are the volunteers to work the lunch and cleanup. The foundation, he said, still needs donations for paper goods, Sterno cans, chafing dishes, and refreshments.
Jones said CVFS has created a S.O.S. (Sponsor Our Senior) Program where people can sponsor a senior for $4. "This gives a senior the comfort of knowing his Friday meal is secure." Send requests to: S.O.S. Program, P.O. Box 665, Chino Valley, AZ 86323.
Once the meals get going, Jones said the foundation will look at other senior needs in the community. "We may even team up with the Chino Valley Food Bank," he said.
The CVFS board consists of Jones, Linda Hatch, Deacon Kimball Arnold, Trisha Lamb, Kay Jones, Greg Lubich, Ed Steinback, Marianne Wear, Pat Hooppell and John Willoughby.
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Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Article comment by:
Tom
Nice. Now what happens when - according to the courier - the town will be over a million dollars short next year and they choose to close the entire center down. Will this new organization step in to continue all services or are they still just going to provide meals on Fridays. What about holidays, or week-ends? Do people only need to eat on Friday? I guess that is one way to diet. Also, In this economy, what restaurant is going to be able to give out 50+ meals a week for free?
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