Food and Friends: Meet & Eat now offered twice a week in Lake Linden

Copper Shores Meals on Wheels is excited to offer a second weekly meal at the Maple Lane Meet & Eat site in Lake Linden. In addition to serving every Tuesday at noon, Meals on Wheels will now host an additional meal every Thursday at noon. With an expanding program and growing capacity to serve seniors, the Meet & Eat site at Maple Lane was a natural choice for increased programming.

“The seniors at Maple Lane have been requesting this,” said McKenzie Hart, Meals on Wheels office clerk. “Maple Lane is homey and pretty relaxed. Fay really goes out of her way to personalize the experience by doing things like making sure that everyone has their specific cup. It’s a very welcoming site.”

Fay Kemppainen is a long time employee of Meals on Wheels, recently celebrating 29 years of serving seniors.

“Passion is a great word for her,” said Jessica Mills, Meals on Wheels program assessor. “Passion and commitment. She’s made friends with many of the Meet & Eat clients over the years, and really gets to know them.”

Though home-deliveries are the primary focus of Meals on Wheels, Meet & Eat sites play a key role in both senior health and maintaining efficient routes for delivery drivers. Meet & Eat is designed for seniors who can still leave home independently to gather for regular social connection over a shared meal. Seniors that attend Meet & Eat are treated to the same flavorful, homemade meals that home-bound seniors receive, often featuring fresh ingredients from local farms.

“It’s been proven that the older we get, the more isolated we become,” said Mills. “Whether it’s illness, disability, lack of local family or living family, the Meet & Eat sites provide an outlet to get out of the house and meet individuals, all while growing your circle and enjoying a family-style meal.”

Meet & Eat is offered at no cost to seniors. To attend Meet & Eat at Maple Lane, call the Meals on Wheels office at 1 (906) 483-1155 at least 24 hours in advance. Seniors may attend as often or as little as they like. To see the full Meet & Eat schedule and site locations, visit the Meet & Eat page on the Copper Shores website or call the Meals on Wheels office at 1 (906) 483-1155. To keep up with program updates, expansions and improvements, sign up for the free monthly Meals on Wheels email newsletter.