A new seniors’ program that begins Monday at the Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira has a dual purpose of providing a healthy lunch and the chance to make new friends.
The pilot project that begins Nov. 21 is a partnership with Community Care Concepts of Woolwich, Wellesley and Wilmot, the Township of Woolwich and Woolwich Seniors Association. The seniors’ lunch will be offered twice a month and is open to any senior living within the community who could benefit from a wholesome meal and the opportunity for fellowship with others.
“We are trying to provide the opportunity for seniors living across Woolwich Township to come together for a hot nutritious meal and meet new people and build links in the community,” said Cathy Harrington, executive director of Community Care Concepts. “We already host a variety of lunches throughout the township and have had quite a bit of demand for meals. Many people living independently may feel a bit isolated and want to get out particularly in the colder weather and we are providing the opportunity where they can come together and have a good meal and good time.”
The organization, which operates a host of programs including Meals on Wheels, hopes that participants will take advantage of other activities or programs through the senior association or using the facilities at the Woolwich Memorial Centre. Individuals already participating in programs at the seniors’ centre may want to arrive early or stay after their program for lunch.
“We hope to be able to add programming before and after the lunch that will complement programs that are already offered, as well as a variety of services offered across the township and build a broad continuum of a service,” said Harrington. “Our goal as an organization is to help seniors live independently in their own home and we are trying to figure out some of the ways that we can do that.”
Currently the Community Care Concepts offers community dining in across the three townships and once a month there is a dinner operating in St. Jacobs at Calvary United Church.
“We get quite a good turnout to these events and we find that people really appreciate the opportunity to come together around a meal and we have had a lot of requests to expand that,” said Harrington, adding the organization is trying to figure out how to take the community dining program and expand it to other locations that could use it.
The lunch will be held in the large community room on the left side of the main entrance of the WMC at members of the Community Care Concepts will be gathering information on additional programs that individuals would like to see offered.
Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. with lunch being served at noon. There is a $6 charge per person and the lunch will include a soup or salad, main lunch entrée, dessert and coffee or tea.
Interested individuals are asked to preregister by contacting Community Care Concepts at (519) 669-3023 or adding their name to a sign up sheet at the Woolwich Seniors Association.
