Erie County Senior Services offering frozen meal pickup program

‘Stay Fit’ senior dining begins reopening

The Erie County Department of Senior Services is offering a frozen meal pickup program at 27 participating senior center locations across Erie County while the popular congregate dining program has been paused due to COVID-19 restrictions. Frozen meals are currently available to Erie County residents 60 years of age or older.

Seniors can choose between a 3, 5, 6, 8 or 10- meal pack that can be picked up once a week from participating locations. A roll, milk and dessert are included with each meal. A confidential contribution of $3 per meal in the form of cash, check or EBT is appreciated, but no one will be turned away for lack of ability to pay.

Erie County Senior Services Commissioner David J. Shenk said, “The frozen meal pickup program is a great option to reduce food insecurity among older adults especially during the pandemic and winter season. Through the weekly pickup, staff is also able to provide a brief wellness check in an effort to combat social isolation. We will also continue to offer monthly nutrition handouts and updates on upcoming events within the department to encourage seniors to stay connected.”

Senior centers participating in the frozen meal pickup program include:

• Akron-Newstead Senior Citizen
• Amherst Senior Center
• Baptist Manor
• Boston Senior Citizen Center
• Cayuga Village Apartments
• Cheektowaga Senior Center
• Clarence Senior Citizen Center
• Concord Nutrition Site
• Friends to the Elderly
• Lancaster Senior Center
• Maryvale East Senior Complex (Moorman)
• Northwest Buffalo Community Center
• Orchard Park Senior Center
• Salvation Army-Tonawanda Branch
• Schiller Park Senior Center
• Sloan Senior Center
• Tosh Collins Center
• Town of Aurora Senior Center
• Town of Evans Senior Center
• Town of Hamburg Senior Center
• Town of Marilla Senior Center
• Town of Tonawanda Senior Center
• United Church Manor
• Violet Housing
• West Seneca Senior Center
• William-Emslie YMCA
• Williamstowne Village

In addition, the “Stay Fit” senior dining program has begun gradually reopening, with 16 locations open as of March 1:

• Akron-Newstead Senior Citizen
• Amherst Senior Center
• Baptist Manor
• Boston Senior Citizen Center
• Clarence Senior Citizen Center
• Concord Nutrition Site
• Lancaster Senior Center
• Maryvale East Senior Complex (Moorman)
• Northwest Buffalo Community Center
• Orchard Park Senior Center
• Sloan Senior Center
• Town of Aurora Senior Center
• Town of Hamburg Senior Center
• Town of Tonawanda Senior Center
• Violet Housing
• West Seneca Senior Center

Other locations are expected to reopen in coming weeks. All locations will follow New York State Department of Health and CDC indoor dining guidelines. This program provides a safe social setting to help reverse the pandemic’s isolating side effects in the older adult community.

For more information or to register for the frozen meal program and “Stay Fit” dining, call 716-858-7639.

The mission of the Department of Senior Services of Erie County is to promote the well-being of all older adults through coordinated and cost-effective services that enhance their independence, dignity and quality of life.

For more information on the Erie County Senior Services Department and programs, click here or call 716-858-8526.