Calaveras Senior Lunches Resume Monday

The lunch program at the Calaveras County Senior Center in San Andreas will reopen Monday after being closed for more than two weeks.

During the closure the center installed a new dishwasher and had it inspected and permitted by the Calaveras County Environmental Health Department.

The senior center set up its own meals program less than two months ago through local donations. Seniors pulled together and created their own kitchen, with donations of $4,000 in new, commercial-grade kitchen equipment. “The state may have pulled out, but we´re not closed,” said Robert Chabot, center coordinator.

The had been preparing the meals for Calaveras Meals on Wheels clients at the center. On Feb. 14, the state agency pulled its kitchen equipment out of the center after it opted not to renew the lease for the facility´s kitchen.

“After the agency moved out, the center´s board of directors met with seniors and we decided to create our own lunch program,” Chabot said. “We started with an empty kitchen, not even a spoon. We bought everything we needed and now we´re ready.

“The food program is run on 100 percent donation. The seniors will support themselves. They want the program to succeed. They love this place. They love to come relax, joke, Have fun and eat for two hours at a time,” he said.

“There is no charge to come have a snack or lunch. There are no sign-ups or paperwork required. We don´t care what your age is, 7, 17 or 77. All we want is your first name and if you´ve never been here, we´ll show you around.

“Once we become formal, we will begin advertising and publish a monthly menu. Lunch is on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.”

Calaveras Enterprise story by Vanessa Turner

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