By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
The Crest Forest Senior Citizens Club (CFSCC) has been serving lunches to those 60 and over for many years at the San Moritz Lodge though the senior nutrition luncheon program. They currently serve a warm, nutritionally balanced meal every Tuesday and Thursday at noon to approximately 100.
The recent and persistent electrical outages from Edison have created a problem with the program, as several times the food purchased for the meals has been ruined by the outages. So, the club has sought to install a generator at Leisure Shores to secure the food and to create a warming, cooling and recharging center for the community. They have secured a small grant to purchase the large generator, but there are numerous other expenses, such as a cement slab for the generator, a shed and other expenses that were not financially covered.
The Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead saw a significant community benefit to this generator and donated $4,000 to help with this project. At their luncheon meeting held at the Lake Arrowhead Community Presbyterian Church, they presented a symbolically large check to the Crest Forest Seniors Citizens Club represented by Emiliya Phidayeva, the senior nutritional lunch coordinator; CFSCC President Rhea-Frances Tetley; and Cecilia Ponce de Leon, the CFSCC fundraising director.
Funding for the senior nutrition luncheons is provided by the San Bernardino County Department of Aging and Adult Services through a grant award from the California Department of Aging. The senior nutrition program has been dedicated to supporting the nutritional, wellness and social needs of older adults through the Older Americans Act. The program’s mission is to reduce hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; promote socialization and reduce isolation among older adults; and support health and well-being and help delay the onset of adverse health conditions.
The lunch menu is approved by two registered dietitians and printed in advance. Diners need to be 60+ but do not need to be a member of CFSCC to have lunch and there is no income requirement. However, regardless of age, the following individuals are also eligible: spouses of eligible participants and individuals with disabilities who live with and accompany an eligible participant. For guests who are not eligible for a free meal, an $8 meal fee is requested when they choose to dine.
The senior nutrition program plays a vital role in helping older adults in the mountain communities remain healthy, engaged and independent.
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