Island Senior: Help Support a Popular Program, Meals on Wheels and More

Volunteer Dani McKay Puts Final Touches on Meals on Wheels – Photo Peggy Sue McRae

Island Senior is a regular column written for the Update by Peggy Sue McRae…

One of the most popular programs for Island Seniors, Meals on Wheels and More, brings an average of 70 seniors to the Mullis Center for a tasty hot lunch and enjoyable social time. Lunches are served on Mondays and Thursdays at 11:45. It’s an inexpensive nutritious meal, $5 suggested donation for seniors, $7 for everyone else (all are welcome). It comes with a choice of beverages, salad, and desert. Lunch menus are posted on the Mullis Community Senior Center Facebook Page.

From the Salad Bar – Photo Peggy Sue McRae

The Center’s manager, Debbie Haagensen tells us about Nancy who has been enjoying lunch at the Mullis Center for over 15 years and appreciates that someone else does the chopping so she doesn’t have to. Says Nancy, “The salad bar encourages me to eat more vegetables than I would prepare on my own.” I have to agree with her on that point!

The meals program includes Meals on Wheels, each lunch day delivering 10 to 15 meals to homebound Islanders in need of a prepared meal. Donations are requested to help cover the costs but no one is turned down for lack of funds.

Federal funding covers less than 30% of the cost of senior meals. Lunch goers provide another 43% in donations. After San Juan County, the United Way of San Juan County, and the Center’s March for Meals fundraising event, the program is still running a projected deficit of $5,000 on San Juan Island this year. If you are thinking about making an end of the year contribution to a good cause, please consider donating to this vital service. Any funds over $5,000 raised will help fund next year’s meals program.

Donations can be made via cash, check, or credit card at the Mullis Center, 589 Nash Street, or you can mail a check to P.O. Box 951, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Please make your check out to “Mullis Senior Center” and note on the memo line that the donation is for “Senior Meals” or “Meals on Wheels”. Thank you for supporting this important program!

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