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Reminder Correspondent HAMPDEN On June 30, the Hampden Senior Center closed its doors indefinitely, ending almost all senior activities, trips, and programs. But Gen Ford and the Bethlehem Baptist Church, with the help of Greater Springfield Services (GSS), are working together to provide a place where seniors are not only served a good meal every day, but also given a place to socialize with friends. The Hampden Congregate Meal Program will continue to be available for the seniors of Hampden at the Bethlehem Baptist Church on 216 Allen Street in Hampden. GSS provides the meals for the program so seniors are still offered a place to eat lunch even though the Senior Center is closed. The program moved to the church on July 5 and will operate from that location until the Senior Center reopens. Ford, the meal site manager, is finding that there are challenges to running the meal program without the benefit of the Senior Center, but there are also advantages. According to Ford, the program was averaging about 40 or 50 people a day, but now the number is down to about 25. She says the reason for the drop in attendance is because many seniors were participating in activities at the Senior Center before coming to the meal. At the church, the meal is all that is offered. On the first day at the new location, a late arriving crowd had Ford nervous that no one would show up. But about 25 people did arrive closer to mealtime. Seniors are now served their meals on a cart that is brought around to each table. The meals are also served on paper plates, reducing the amount of cleaning for the staff. And the room that is being used has only a small number of big tables, meaning that there is more socializing between people because they sit closer together. The meal program also offers a place for seniors to get together and talk with friends, something that is much harder now that the Senior Center has been closed down. Ford said that she received a call from a Hampden senior who was thrilled to find out the meal program was still operating, not because of the food, but because it gave him a chance to "be with his friends." "The pastors of the Bethlehem Church are so generous, they're not charging us anything," said Ford. Every Friday, door prizes, such as $10 gift certificates to local restaurants, are raffled off to seniors in attendance. "It's a good deal to these people because many of them are on a fixed income," said Ford. But despite the benefits, Ford says that she will be happy to see the Senior Center reopen. Meals are served at the church at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. For reservations, call Gen Ford at 589-9205. | ||||||
