Meals may be discontinued at Denison senior center

Participation numbers at the senior center in Denison have dropped in recent months, and the Jackson County Commissioners have decided that the county will no longer provide senior meals there if the numbers don’t increase by the end of the year.

In recent weeks, Amanda Spalding and Cheryl Hamlin, senior services directors, have reported that the number of meals served at the Denison center, located at 203 Central Ave., has dropped to between two to six meals served a day. The Northeast Kansas Area Agency of Aging recommends that a meal site have at least 10 participants to remain open, it was reported.

Spalding said that the numbers at the Denison site began dropping several months ago. While area seniors are encouraged to eat and socialize at the center during the lunch hour, some seniors pick up their meals and then eat them at home.

“I know they don’t want it to close and that it’s convenient for them,” Spalding said. “This news might be met with resistance, but we’ll do what we can to try to bump up the numbers before the end of the year.”

An employee with county senior services packages and transports the meals from the Holton senior center to the Denison center Monday through Friday after a headcount is determined.

The county rents the center facility at Denison each month during meal hours, which averages to about $260 to $265 a month in county expense, it was reported. The building is owned by the Denison Community Association.

“We want the number of people who eat at the Denison center to get up to 10,” said Commissioner Janet Zwonitzer. “There were just two people who ate at the center two weeks ago. Those number have to go up.”

The commissioners said they will be monitoring the attendance at the Denison center each week for the rest of the year.

Between the cost of gasoline to transport the meals and the cost of renting the building, the commissioners said more participation is needed to warrant the expenses.

“It’s not cost efficient to drive there for just two meals,” said Commissioner Rob Ladner.

The Jackson County Senior Center in Holton prepares about 100 meals Monday through Friday, and residents from all areas of the county are invited to eat there.

“Our other small towns take advantage of the center in Holton, and Denison seniors can too,” Zwonitzer said. “We want to give the Denison seniors until the end of the year to get their numbers up, otherwise we’ll have to close the site.”

The Denison Senior Center opened in 1979 with a dedication ceremony that featured Gov. John Carlin. The center was established with a grant from CETA (Comprehensive Employment Training and Administration) program, which was a state program.

Once the grant ended in 1983, the county commissioners agreed to fund the senior meal program, it was reported.

Holton and Denison are the only two towns in Jackson County that have senior centers that serve residents Monday through Friday with county funds.