On Wednesday morning of August 5th, Elvis Presley and the Beach Boys sang from a handheld stereo as citizens came to pick up prepared meals at “the most exciting place in Winooski”: the Winooski Senior Center.

The well-balanced plate that More Than a Meal provided to participants. Photo by Laura Meyer.

“You guys are heroes! Thank you so much,” a participant exclaimed as she collected her meal from Barb Pitfido, the Senior Program Manager and Olivia Miller, the volunteer coordinator.

Pitfido created More than a Meal as a socially-distanced substitute for the community meal held every Wednesday at the Senior Center prior to the pandemic as a way to keep the seniors engaged safely during isolating times.

“Everybody that has signed up to try it has said ‘Just sign me up, just keep me on it!’

What I love about this is that I get to see my folks, and then word of mouth brought in people I never knew before. It broadened our customer base,” Pitfido said.

More Than a Meal is partnered with Age Well, a local agency on aging, serving the Northwest corner of Vermont. They offer a range of services in order to achieve their mission to help Vermonters age independently and with confidence.

Age Well receives federal funding from The Older Americans Act, state funds, local funds, private donations, and through other federal funds that are a direct response to Covid-19.

The Williston Food Shelf also partnered with More Than A Meal and gives extra perishable food, which is then assembled as a little “senior shopping center,” as Miller calls it.

The Winooski Senior Center serves residents from other neighboring towns. Citizens aged 60 and over come to pick up their meal and peruse fresh produce under the tent at the Senior Center from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

More Than a Meal participant Stan picks up his meal. Photo by Laura Meyer.

“We used to have on average 10-15 people come to our community meals, and today I think we are giving out 80 meals, so we’re doing something right,” said Miller.

“It’s a nutritious meal, they can take it home, eat it safely, and again feel like a part of something,” said Age Well Nutrition and Wellness Director Chris Moldovan.

Since the program is government-funded, the organizers need to follow strict guidelines for a balanced and healthy meals, according to Moldovan

The menu for Wednesday, August 5 was roast beef au jus, mashed potatoes, peas, bread roll, and chocolate cake for dessert.

“I come to pick up my meal because both my wife and I are retired and it’s very helpful to have one meal a week she doesn’t have to prepare. I’m very thankful to have Barb and Olivia, they are always there to help,” said Stan, a participant who has been coming every Wednesday for the past 3 years to the Winooski Center for Meals.

“I hope it brightens up their day, because it brightens up mine,” Miller said.

“It’s an honor to serve my community,” Pitfido concludes, with bright eyes, and presumably a smile under her mask.