Free meals, friendly faces available to Sumner seniors during COVID-19 pandemic
Senior citizens in Sumner have been provided more than 4,800 meals by the Senior Activity Center since the coronavirus pandemic began in March.
Sumner resident Jeanne Jacobson, 75, said the daily noon pickups are more than just a meal.
“It’s so nice to say, ‘Hello,’ to everybody and have a circle of people who care about each other,“ Jacobson said. “It’s been hard.”
She, along with about 40 others, come every day to collect a hot meal, fresh produce, brain games and a social hour.
The Senior Activity Center, run by the city and Stafford Suites, has always served lunch, but the pandemic has forced the center to pack lunch and a social outing into a few minutes.
The center on 62nd Street Court East has created a drive-by lunch and pickup activities.
Program director Jenny Simoneaux started two weeks before the state mandate to shut down “non-essential businesses.” Simoneaux knew a hot meal and social time were important to continue to provide.
Elderly people are more vulnerable to COVID-19, so extra precautions are taken.
The food is brought out to cars in plastic bags on a tray. If seniors want fresh produce, like prunes and cucumbers from the Sumner Food Bank, or brain teasers and puzzles, they can park their car, put on a mask and shop six-feet apart.
Leftover food is donated to low-income senior centers nearby.
“They do all this out of love,” Jacobson said. “There are a lot of low-income people who come here, and this is the only hot meal they get. If it weren’t for them, we don’t know what a lot of people would do.”
There are about 2,000 seniors registered with the center, Simoneaux said. For many, it’s their only daily meal and outing. While they stay at the center for less than 15 minutes, that time is meaningful.
“It gives them a purpose, a reason to get out of bed, put on clothes and leave the house,” Simoneaux said.
The food is provided by Catholic Community Services every week and includes meals like Salisbury steak with gravy and honey dijon chicken. All meals are certified by a nutritionist, Simoneaux said.
Cook Sue Barrera starts her day at 9 a.m. to prepare at least 40 meals and package them. On days with popular dishes or holidays, the center can see up to 75 folks wait in line. Barrera said the extra folks aren’t a burden.
“They’re my family. That’s what you do for family,” she said.
Simoneaux tries to make the noon pick-up as joyful as possible because it’s sometimes the only human interaction some of the people who use the service get.
They make birthday cards, bring out festive decorations for holidays and make sure they find time to chat with the seniors for a few minutes. Simoneaux is already planning the holiday season.
Some pandemic restrictions have proven difficult. Simoneaux said talking through a mask means some seniors struggle to understand.
“They really rely on lip-reading,” she said.
If she isn’t being understood, Simoneaux will stand back from the car and talk louder.
Barrera said she misses the social part of cooking. She cooks alone in the kitchen but feels it’s more than worth it.
“I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t doing this,” she said.
Simoneaux isn’t sure when the Senior Activity Center will open, but she wants to continue to help seniors find a bit of light during the pandemic.
“If we don’t do this, who will?” she said.
