Senior Center wants to increase Meals on Wheels participants

The Bigfork Senior Center wants to increase the number of people they service through their Meals on Wheels program, especially now that the snowbirds are back for the summer.

Director Michele Shapero said it’s a useful service and she only has seven people taking advantage of the program right now.

“We have a tremendous number of seniors in the community here,” Shapero said. “And for those who can’t drive, I just want to get the word out that we have the Meals on Wheels delivery.”

Three hot lunches a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, are delivered to the homes of those who participate in the program. The meals are provided by the Agency on Aging in Kalispell, and are delivered to the Bigfork Senior Center along with a meal that will be served at the center. The cost for those aged 60 plus is whatever they can donate up to the cost of the meal, which is $4.75 for delivered meals and $4.25 for a meal at the center.

The Bigfork Senior Center can only deliver meals to residents of Flathead County but because Bigfork reaches into Lake County as well, there is a way for those living outside the senior center’s jurisdiction to receive meals.

“Technically, we can’t service people in Lake County, but if they have a family member or a friend who can come pick it up, we can have five frozen meals prepared and delivered here for them to pick-up,” Shapero said. “That’s the best we’ve been able to do.”

They offer that special service because if they didn’t, Meals on Wheels services would have to be delivered from Polson. Shapero currently has that deal worked out for one resident in Woods Bay and one resident in Swan Lake.

While Shapero is glad to have the ability to offer the Meals on Wheels service, she said it would also be nice to have a few extra volunteers to help. She needs them as reinforcements for delivery drivers and to set up before and clean up after the congregate meal. The congregate meal is served at the Bigfork Senior Center at 12 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Volunteer drivers pick up meals at 11:15 a.m. and deliver to the Swan River School area and the Lakeview and Crestview areas.

Drivers can fill out a mileage log and submit it to the Agency on Aging once a month for a partial mileage reimbursement. They are also given a meal and can eat with those receiving the congregate meal at 12 p.m.

Anyone interested in learning more can call Shapero at 837-4157 or email her at mshapero64@yahoo.com.