Wrangell Sentinel -

Nutrition is elementary for healthy living in both mind and body.

Proper dietary consideration is especially important for seniors living in Wrangell since many of our most precious citizens – who are a tie to our past – are frequently unable to leave their homes in the borough.

And that is precisely where the Wrangell Senior Center comes in.

The center, which has been feeding lunch to seniors both in-house and by delivery for decades is now able to offer meals five days a week for those in need.

George Joseph, the manager of the center said their previous offering of four-day-a-week meals was upped thanks to a number of grants to support healthy living for Wrangellites.

“We lucked out in the funding department,” Joseph said. “After having a few years of little or no increase, and kind of limping by four days a week, we received a funding raise.”

While the increase isn’t large, according to Joseph, the raise in funding came from a varied group of sources.

“We received a Title VI grant, some money from the City and Borough of Wrangell and the Wrangell Cooperative Association, and our Catholic Community Service grant request came through too,” she said.

Altogether, the annual cost of feeding seniors over 60, five days a week, is roughly $185,000, according to Joseph.

All menus are generated through a dietician in Juneau where vitamin and protein content are maximized – and are provided to senior centers across Southeast.

WCA council member Lynn Allen said the group gave for a number of important reasons.

“It was important for all seniors to give money to this,” Allen said. “But especially because of our Elders in the community that go there and eat. It’s also important for them to be together, emotionally and community-wise, instead of just sitting at home alone.”

For more information on the meals served at the senior center, call Joseph at 874-2066.