Portsmouth Senior Center starts meals pickup program Monday

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Senior Center is starting a meals pickup program on Monday, March 23, to assist the area’s more vulnerable citizens during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

The East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) is offering boxed lunch deliveries for local senior center sites, including Portsmouth’s. EBCAP reports its caterer is able to produce 50 meals per day for each site.

Locally, the program is available to the approximately 25 participants of the senior center’s meal site program, according to Cindy Koniecki, the center’s director. Other senior center members — there are about 800 in total — could reserve any of the extra meals 24 hours in advance, she said.

“If they’re not a participant of the meal site but a member of the senior center, they can fill out a PIF (personal information form),” Ms. Koniecki said. That can be done over the phone. 

The boxed lunches consist of a sandwich, vegetable, fruit, milk and juice, she said. 

Delivery is not available to homes. All qualified Portsmouth participants must pick up lunches at the Portsmouth Senior Center, 110 Bristol Ferry Road, at noon each day. 

“They’re already going to be prepared. I’ll give them a call when it comes in,” said Ms. Koniecki, who said participants don’t need to leave their vehicles as the meals will be delivered to them in a “drive-by” fashion. (The senior center is closed until further notice.)

Meals need to be made with a 24-hour reservation. Participants can call Ms. Koniecki at 401/683-4106. If there’s no answer, call 401/297-6102.

“If they wanted it for Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, they can let me know on Monday,” she said.

A suggested donation of $3 is request in order to sustain the program, as it may need to continue for a month or more. 

Whether or not the program is extended, and for how long, “will depend on the agency that’s going to be delivering the meals to us. Nobody knows the answer,” Ms. Koniecki said.

Next week’s menu

Here’s the daily menu for next week:

• Monday, March 23: Egg salad sandwich, pudding, tossed salad with dressing, milk and juice. (It’s too late to call in for Monday.)

• Tuesday, March 24: Corned beef and Swiss cheese sandwich, coleslaw, fruit cocktail, milk and juice.

• Wednesday, March 25: Turkey and cheese sandwich, mandarin oranges, beet salad, milk and juice.

• Thursday, March 26: Salami with provolone sandwich, three-bean salad, fresh fruit, milk and juice.

• Friday, March 27: Chicken salad, fresh baby carrots, sliced pears, milk and juice.

Concerned about isolation

Ms. Koniecki said two senior center volunteers are doing wellness checks on members, most of whom are now stuck at home due to health concerns. She’s also been in daily contact with the governor’s office and the R.I. Office of Healthy Aging.

“They’re OK now. People are stockpiled on food and not bored completely yet,” she said.

But not being to get out of the house will be a more serious issues for seniors “once this thing ramps up,” she said.

“They’re concerned about the isolation,” Ms. Koniecki said. “We’re just thinking of ways to pass the time. Do puzzles, watch TV, go for a walk, call people — they do like to talk. Read a book, pray — anything to just keep their minds busy.

“If they need to call the senior center, we’re here.”