For now.

The organizers for the program figure they have two months of food on hand now to get them through the next few critical months.

Milk and bread is purchased locally to keep fresh. They can buy a high quality product for meals from the Food Truck once a month. For now that is a reprieve.

But the numbers remain small.

Lorraine Crawford and Pat Risetter collect money for tickets that are punched for either a week or 20 days at a time. Sandy Jondal is responsible for all the bills that are paid each month.

A room that used to be full of the 80-plus crowd remains half filled. There is a need. There are still hungry older citizens who need help getting healthy food for a reasonable cost.

But in a community where the fastest growing age group is over the age of 65, it confuses the organizers.

“They can eat one meal here, and take another meal home,” encouraged Paula Brownell, a supporter of the program.

Crawford, site manager and president of the Congregate Meals board of directors, said an ideal number of participants to keep the program continued would be 25 to 30 meals sold each day. Those meals can be take-out, or eaten within the facility, which is located on the north end of the Senior Citizen building at 749 Second St.

The meal cost is recommended at $10, but is set somewhat by the need of each person. Federal, state and local dollars help subsidize part of the cost of each meal for those in need of assistance.

This program is designed to provide healthy meals to those who are looking for both good food and companionship.

No one is turned away.

Menus are approved by a dietician to ensure the food prepared is a healthy diet. With the increased costs of meat and other food items, the CEO of Elderbridge has been allowing substitutions for items, such as a different protein or a different vegetable, when the food is unavailable or too expensive.

Ultimately, both more donations and more participants are needed for Congregate Meals to continue long-term. Those who would like to pick up meals, or to join the group are encouraged to contact the organizers by calling Congregate Meals at 515-832-6161.

Information on the program is also available by talking with any of the board members. Those are listed below under the photo.

Participants or those who would like to make donations to Congegate Meals can also stop by any time and discuss the program with the organizers between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.