Seniors taking advantage of the feeding program enjoy not just food, but fellowship. (Photo by Gage Wilson/ Glasgow News 1)
By GAGE WILSON
Glasgow News 1
The Barren River Area District Development, commonly known as BRADD, has partnered with local organizations like the Barren County Family YMCA and the Park City Senior Center to spearhead a senior feeding program. The program is for residents who are 60-years old or older, and offers participants free catered meals. While participants are encouraged to stay and eat with other seniors, they are also welcome to take the meals to-go.
BRADD started this program as a response to COVID and began implementing it as restrictions eased, because of the health detriments to seniors being isolated.
Hollie Smith, the aging services planner for BRADD said, “After quarantine ended, we had so many older residents that were so scared to get back out so we wanted to do something to encourage our senior population to come together again. Study after study shows that seniors who are active in their community are healthier and happier.”
The program began in April at the YMCA location, where it is known as “60 m.p.h” standing for meals for physical health. Angela Briggs, the director over finance and grant writing at the YMCA, was the person responsible for bringing the feeding program to the Y.
“When we started we had around 35 seniors that we fed, that number has increased to almost 80 seniors,” Briggs said. “The great thing about this program is it’s providing congregate meals. So many of these seniors have lost spouses or don’t have a place to socialize and we’re giving them an opportunity to get back out and make friends.”
The YMCA also hosts a class directed toward seniors called Silver Sneakers. The class encourages fitness in seniors led by former Barren County track and cross country coach Terry Reed, and is begins an hour before meals arrive.
“The most unique thing about this program that we have noticed is when the seniors leave, you hear them asking ‘So where are we going to meet up later’ or ‘I’ll call you tonight’ so these bonds that they’re making are extending beyond the program,” Briggs said “Something like this couldn’t just be done by one group. This is such a success because of BRADD, Gabe Esters and his staff who caters the meals.”
Meals are provided for seniors at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday at the 1 YMCA Way. For those interested in signing up for the program call 270-651-9622.
Gabe Esters, owner of Esters Farm Cafe and Catering, is one of the caterers who is providing the meals to the seniors, said “When we were first contacted, we were asked to submit some menus that fit with the dietary needs of the seniors, which was approved by a dietician on the state level.”
Meals consist of a protein, vegetable and a fruit, with the occasional “treat” like a cookie, or pudding.
“I think the inflation we’ve seen in food prices is another reason that this program has been so successful, people living on fixed incomes simply cannot afford spending extra to get quality, healthy foods like what the program offers,” Esters said.
“Several of our regular customers at the café have been taking of the program as well, so it’s really nice to see Park City come together as a community here,” he said “A lot of people in this area still don’t know about the program, so we are still trying to get the word out.”
Esters catering services provides meals for both locations, in tandem with another catering service out of Bowling Green that has a contract with the state known as Five Star Food Service.
The Park City Senior Center became a feeding location at the beginning of May. The program is led by Ashlee Dennis the director over the center. According to the center they started out serving around 20 seniors with that number continuing to grow, with the most recent count being around 40 participants.
One of the seniors, Leathel Bowles, has been involved with the senior center since the beginning, even donating a pool table. “It’s an important thing for us to have,” Bowles said. “After my wife of 53 years passed, I didn’t know what to do anymore. This center and these people have given me a new reason to live.”
The Park City Feeding Program is Monday and Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. with plans to open additional days moving forward, for more information call Park City Hall 270-749-5695.
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