SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) — The City of Syracuse has re-opened the Bob Cecile Community Center in order to feed seniors in need. Syracuse residents age 60 or above, as well as anyone who is a spouse or has a disability and is living with a senior. The drive-thru has only been open since Monday, but so far the response from seniors has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We’ve heard nothing but positive comments with the frozen meals, the grab ‘n go’s,” PEACE, Inc. Assistant Food Director Dan Fletcher said.
The meals are frozen – Fletcher mentioned that the centers use to serve actual hot and cold lunches, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have now made the transition to frozen meals.
“There’s typically an entree, a starch, a vegetable, bread and butter, dessert and a milk,” Fletcher said.
However, there is still plenty of variety. Some lunch options in the coming days include boneless chicken cacciatore, barbecue pork and vegetable lasagna. All meals meet one-third of the recommended daily allowance of nutrients from the Food and Nutrition Board. The full menu of meals can be found here.
The one thing drive-thru meals can’t provide is a sense of community. Fletcher said that before the pandemic, there were 35 community centers open to offer lunches and a space to socialize. The re-opening of Cecile on Monday marked the 19th during the coronavirus.
“[The seniors] do miss the socialization. A lot of centers haven’t re-opened because socialization comes first and the meal comes second – if we can’t get together, we’re not going to re-open,” Fletcher said.
To get a meal, pre-registration is required via phone, but that’s the only necessity. Residents without vehicles can also pick up lunches at the Cecile Center. Meals are available weekdays from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Call 315-473-2678 to pre-register.
