Senior Dining hopes to see congregate meals return

     Jones County Senior Dining is hopeful that by July, congregate meals can return for many senior citizens in Jones County.

     Lisa Tallman, Senior Dining director, was present at the Feb. 16 Jones County Supervisor meeting. She asked the board to approve the Fiscal Years 2022-25 applications to Heritage Agency on Aging, which helps to fund Senior Dining.

     Tallman is asking Heritage to fund 9,500 congregate meals and 22,500 home-delivered meals, for a total of 32,000 meals. She is also asking for an increase in price per funded-meal, from $3.18 to $3.53 per meal.

     These fiscal year changes would not go into effect until July 1, 2021. Tallman said “fingers crossed” that Senior Dining could reopen by then.

     She told the board that’s difficult to account for just how many meals Senior Dining would need, not knowing whether the dining halls would reopen yet this year or not.

     “We’ve been closed since mid-March,” she said.

     Supervisor Joe Oswald inquired as to the situation in Monticello. Right now the dining site is located within the John McDonald Health & Education Center, which is closed. Tallman said many of her supplies are still inside.

     She said she’s heard lots of rumors in Monticello about the facility, but isn’t sure what to believe.

     “We could possibly go back into the Berndes Center or a church,” Tallman offered. “People have been reaching out to me.”

     She said one business offered her an empty building, but she’s hoping for a situation where Senior Dining won’t have to rent space.

     Supervisor John Schlarmann asked if Tallman had enough volunteers delivering meals to senior’s homes. Tallman said that has not been an issue.

     “I’m dropping off frozen meals once a week to keep our contact to a minimum,” she said. “The seniors miss us a lot.”

     Supervisor Ned Rohwedder said so many came to Senior Dining not just for a hot meal, but for the fellowship as well.

     “We hope to see a lot more participation when we get back to normal,” offered Tallman

     The board approved the FY 2022-25 funding applications.