Over 60? Senior Center Offers Lunch for You
By Robin Vinci at October 14, 2023 | 10:00 am | Print
If you are or over the age of 60, New Britain Senior Center has a lunch program just for you.
Mondays through Fridays at noon, the Senior Community Café offers meals, courtesy of CW Resources, for a donation of just $2.50.
Meals change each day and consist of such specialties as stuffed cabbage roll, cream of broccoli soup, homemade meatloaf, sliced roast pork, braised liver, salmon fillet, veal patty, turkey pot pie and boneless chicken breast.
“The menu is always diverse,” said Mike Karwan, senior center director. “It’s all overseen by nutritionists. We are really trying to get some new folks in here.”
“It is good food. I’m a gourmet cook and I love it,” said Arthur Atwood, New Britain Elderly Nutrition Personnel Manager. “This is open to the whole City of New Britain and is run by CW Resources in New Britain.”
CW Resources brings the prepared food to the senior center each day. It is often reheated to be sure it is 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The meal includes milk, coffee or tea and dessert.
“We get anywhere from 30-50 people some days and near the holidays 60 or 70 people,” said Atwood. “A lot of seniors cannot cook for themselves. The ones we get are in late 70s, 80s and 90s and live in various housing projects around here. Every town there is a program similar to this for seniors.”
The center can hold around 125 people and more people over age 60 are always welcome to attend as attendees are dwindling.
Seniors need to sign-up the day before either by coming into the center or calling. Cancellations are requested to call in advance. “The $2.50 helps subsidize the meals which is paid for by the government,” said Atwood. “A lot of people don’t even pay because they don’t have the money. If they can, we ask for $2.50. You can’t get a meal for this price anywhere.”
If you are under 60 and are helping an elderly person get to the lunch, then $5 is asked for the meal.
The people that work at the center to help with the meals are all volunteers. Volunteers are needed as well.
Meals begin precisely at noon. But, seniors are encouraged to stay at the center as there are events such as dancing and bingo.
“When I first started we used to have a lot of people, but we are losing them,” said Atwood. “They are dying and new people don’t know it is available. We offer good, nourishing food. I come from Avon and it is a very afluent town, but they get more people for their lunch.”
Atwood said in the later years seniors need to get out and have companionship from people of their own age.
“Once they get out and learn about each others life, they may want to go play bingo together or dance,” said Atwood. “There are all kinds of programs at the senior center and this should bring people in.”
Atwood has been at the New Britain Senior Center for five years presenting the lunch program. Atwood goes through training by the state once a year, to learn about all the diseases around food and other things such as reheating and the importance of clean hands.
“Clean hands are the most important thing for those working and eating because it spreads germs,” said Atwood.
Atwood said this is all done thanks to the hard work of those from CW Resources.
“CW Resources is also a very good company,” he said. “They really help people who are disadvantaged.”
To get more information or to order a lunch call 860-826-3555.
