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SUNDERLAND — In what is becoming an annual tradition for community service, the South County Senior Center and the Sunderland Men’s Club are once again coming together to offer Christmas Day meals to older adults in Deerfield, Sunderland and Whately for the third consecutive year. The South County Senior Center began the delivery of meals in 2022 with 65 meals delivered to seniors in the community and saw that number jump to about 90 meals last year. Director Jennifer Remillard said the Senior Center is continuing to see a rise in need for holiday meals and the delivery service, which provides a free meal for seniors who may not have family or friends at Christmas.
“We’re so grateful that the community comes together to support our older adults,” Remillard said, noting that the Sunderland’s Men Club is leading the deliveries and the Sunderland Congregational Church is allowing its kitchen to be used. Any older adult in Deerfield, Sunderland or Whately who needs a meal is encouraged to contact the Senior Center by calling 413-665-2141 or Program Coordinator Tom Patria at 413-665-9508. Emails are also accepted at scsc@town.
deerfield.ma.us.
When requesting a meal, seniors must share their phone number, the names of the people receiving the meal — one meal per person — and their address. They must also be home on Christmas Day or at least have a cooler out to receive the food. Meals must be reserved by Sunday, Dec.
22. To help put on the meal delivery, the Senior Center and the Sunderland Men’s Club are looking for volunteers on Christmas morning, most likely beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Anyone who is interested in volunteering can contact Remillard at 413-665-2141 or email [email protected].
us. Sunderland Men’s Club member Tom Fydenkevez said the meal is a traditional turkey dinner with squash, stuffing potatoes, cranberry sauce, a roll and dessert. Funds supporting the meal come from the Men’s Club.
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Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess Monetary donations also will be accepted and can be mailed to the South County Senior Center at P.O. Box 225, Sunderland, MA 01375.
Write “Holiday Meal” in the memo line of checks. Once the holidays are over, Remillard noted the Senior Center continues to offer meal programs for the seniors of southern Franklin County. The center also is a partner with the Department of Transitional Assistance and can process Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications when people schedule appointments.
Additionally the Senior Center has a food pantry on site for those in need and people can come in during the center’s open hours or make an appointment, if needed. On the second Wednesday of every month, the Senior Center also hosts a food distribution in partnership with the Franklin Area Survival Center. For more information, visit the Senior Center at 22 Amherst Road in downtown Sunderland.
Chris Larabee can be reached at [email protected]..
