NOAH Becomes a Host Site for Congregate Meals

Lizzie Moore and Geraldine Peace know a good opportunity when it comes along, and that’s why they became the lead volunteers when NOAH decided to become a host site for Palm Beach County’s congregate meal program. 

As part of the program, the county provides cold breakfasts and hot lunches for residents of Glades Diamonds and Glades Pioneer Terrace Monday through Friday. The meals, which began on November 18, are served at Glades Pioneer because there is more room for residents to eat and socialize.

"It’s a real biggie because most of the residents are 62 and older and some are a lot older," said Shawn Bynum, manager for the Glades Diamond apartments in Belle Glade. "They don’t have to worry about, ‘Am I going to have something eat today’ or ‘am I going to have to cook.’ It takes pressure off of them, and that’s been the joy that I get out of it. They come, eat their meals and they immediately take their medications."

As many as 61 residents have taken advantage of the free meals at once, but on a daily basis about 35 come for each meal.

As the nation's aging population increases, agencies have done more to acknowledge the role nutrition plays in home and community-based care for seniors. Palm Beach County operates congregate dining sites in residences for the elderly, community centers and senior centers north of Hypoluxo Road to the Martin County line. Owners of the facilities donate space to the county at no charge. Money for the program comes from the American Recover and Reinvestment Act through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging. All meals and food-related services and supplies – including food containers, utensils and paper products – are furnished by the county. 

The volunteers are responsible for implementing the program. Moore and Peace have had as many as 13 volunteers helping them, but it’s usually a steady core of four volunteers who keep things moving.

NOAH staff has been impressed with how the volunteers have run things, according to Bynum.

“The tenants themselves run the program. They have to set up the tables served the meals and clean up. All we do is make sure all of the paperwork is done.”

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