NEW LUNCH PROGRAM FOR FRANKLIN SENIOR CITIZENS
NEW LUNCH PROGRAM FOR FRANKLIN SENIOR CITIZENS
By Cindy Merckx/Sentinel of Gloucester County Editor
Published Print Edition Week of January 3rd, 2019
Franklin Township officials spoke to a group of senior citizens on Friday morning (12/28) about a new Senior Lunch Menu that will begin the first week of the New Year on Wednesday, January 2nd at the Franklin Township Community Center. The new menu for the month of January was reviewed by thirty senior citizens in attendance at the County Nutrition Program.
Franklin Township Mayor David Deegan, Committeewoman Leah Vassallo and Township Administrator Nancy Brent explained the details of the program that will replace the Gloucester County Nutrition Program that was in place in the township for the past ten years.
The meals will be made by Nutri-Serve which currently serves over ninety K-12 school districts in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area including Delsea Regional and Franklin Township schools. Franklin Township seniors over age 60 or the disabled can purchase a meal for $1.25. To reserve your meal, you must call the Township offices at (856)694-1234 on the day before between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Guests or Non-Resident can eat at the program at a cost of $6.
Nancy Brent stated that several businesses will supplement meals at times with hot items such as pizza or baked ziti.
Township officials will have to adjust the municipal budget in order to cover the cost incurred for the new Nutri-Serve program that will be under contract with the Township to provide meals at 11 a.m. throughout the year including days during the summer months and spring and winter breaks.
Mayor Deegan assured the senior citizens in attendance that officials do not intend to turn the Community Center into offices as was rumored, and that the Senior Citizen Club will continue to meet on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month at the Center. He apologized for his behavior in an earlier incident that occurred over the summer where he lost his temper and stated to the seniors that the township was ending the lunch program. He said that he will re-establish a Senior Citizen Advisory Committee to assist the Township Committee in addressing issues and problems facing senior citizens and encouraged residents to send in a letter of interest if they would like to be on the Advisory Committee.