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Nutrition Program

As part of Eastern Area Agency on Aging's Nutrition Program, noontime meals are served to persons 60 and older in Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock and Washington counties, either through Meals On Wheels or in an EAAA Community Café.

The meals are delicious, and well-balanced, meeting one third of the Recommended Daily Allowance of nutrients. The monthly menus are varied offering such healthy favorites as macaroni and cheese, roast turkey, and fish chowder.

The Nutrition Program provides good nutrition to seniors who otherwise might not eat a balanced diet. Some seniors can simply no longer make a meal, some are living alone now and have no desire to cook for one. And variety is difficult to achieve when making small meals.

Whatever the reason, the Nutrition Program fits the bill. The Meals On Wheels clients always have smiles on their faces for the volunteer delivery driver. And the EAAA Community Cafés are full of good food and good cheer.

 

EAAA Community Café

There are dozens of Community Cafés in Eastern Area Agency on Aging's four county service area.

Church basements, grange halls, and assorted community club houses are temporarily turned into “mini restaurants” by dedicated staff and volunteers. These meal sites offer companionship, sociability, and a chance to meet with peers.

Lunch has never been so much fun. Patrons usually come early to chat and catch up on town gossip or play games.

Often more than lunch is offered at the dining rooms, such as bingo, speakers, card games, and auctions. Generally most holidays are celebrated leaving patrons with a festive feeling. Friendships are made that can last a lifetime.

The Nutrition Program serves approximately 84,000 meals to 2,300 individuals annually in close to 50 EAAA Community Cafés.

 

Meals On Wheels

Around noon, daily in most places, dedicated volunteers deliver Nutrition Program meals to seniors who are homebound. These seniors have no one to prepare regular meals and can not cook for themselves.

The drivers, some of whom do the same route time after time, often become like family to the seniors. Greeted with a smile, these drivers sometimes bring extra treats for the senior, like cookies or treats for the pets.

The program is available for the short term, as in the case of surgery recovery, or for the long term, such as for seniors who are chronically ill, frail or very elderly.

The delivery person always makes contact with the client, which also serves as a brief well-check. The client is guaranteed a friendly smile at least once a day, which can ease the feeling of isolation.

The Meals On Wheels program serves 104,000 meals to 1,100 individuals annually.

 

Cost and Eligibility

The recommended donation per meal is $3.00. Food stamps are gladly accepted. The donations help offset our costs. In fact, one out of three meals is made possible through client donations.

To encourage aging parents or neighbors to try the Nutrition Program, giftbooks of meal tickets are available. A $15.00 donation is recommended for each booklet of 5 meals.

Non-seniors pay a flat rate of $5.00 per meal.

Eligibility requirements for the Nutrition Program:

 

EAAA’s Nutrition Program can be reached Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm.  If you would like to contact us, there are several ways to do it. Please see below: