Island Senior: Wednesday lunches at the Mullis Center

Gayle Rollins, Mullis Center Lead Cook – Ian Cassinos, Food Service Manager – Nancy Geist, Mullis Center Assistant Cook — Contributed photo

Last month, the Mullis Center cautiously tip-toed into restarting the onsite community lunch program. With COVID cases remaining high and with guidance from the health department and our recent community survey, the Mullis Center is experimenting with a new, less formal, more open, and adaptable lunch program.

The community we serve is rightfully cautious when it comes to COVID, so with that in mind we have opened up the program for greater social distancing and with a few new health and safety protocols.

In a more casual come-and-go setting, lunch will be served between noon and 1 p.m. The dining room will be open at 11:45 a.m. but we encourage you to come at different times up until 1 p.m. to be served. We ask that you limit the number of people at your table to five or six. Weather permitting, there will be outdoor seating on the patio.

Look forward to more local produce. In response to the recent survey, we plan to incorporate more food from local farms. Salads and desserts are now individually plated.

If you wish, you may get your lunch to-go. Please call 360-378-2677 by 9:30 a.m. on lunch days to let staff know you would like a takeout lunch. Takeout lunch pick-up time is usually between 11:15 and 11:30 a.m.

Don’t forget to check in. Meals served must be recorded for funding purposes. Meals are provided for a suggested donation of $5, or whatever is affordable, for folks over 60 and for their spouses/partners, unpaid caregivers, and disabled dependents. For youngsters under 60, the cost is $8.50, cash or checks accepted.

Masks are not mandated and of course we take them off to eat. Still, it is a good idea to consider wearing one when not eating until COVID cases decrease in our community. You can find more information including a masking update by checking out the Mullis Center website. The monthly lunch menu is posted on the website and on the Mullis Center Facebook page. You can also subscribe to the monthly Senior Signal newsletter and/or weekly e-updates by contacting us at 360-378-2677 or [email protected].

We look forward to seeing you at lunch!

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