Congregate meals at Monroe City Hall to end Sept. 30

Low attendance of congregate meals at Monroe City Hall has forced Jasper County Elderly Nutrition to look elsewhere or consider cutting the site entirely.

Kelli Van Manen, program director for elderly nutrition, told the Jasper County Board of Supervisors on June 27 that the program serves about four meals in-person in Monroe. Van Manen later clarified with Newton News that about 20 meals are regularly prepared and distributed to Monroe residents.

“We’ve got to make some changes there,” she said. “…City hall has been great to work with. Very supportive. But I’m sure they would like their space back.”

To account for the lower turnout, Van Manen presented a three-month contract for $100 per month to rent the Monroe facility, rather than a one-year contract.

However, Van Manen is currently seeking another site to hold congregate meals in hopes of improving attendance. While no agreement has been been in place, she did say elderly nutrition has considered asking permission to use The Gathering Place, a newly opened community center in Monroe.

Regardless of whether an agreement works out with a new facility, Van Manen said congregate meals will not be at Monroe City Hall after Sept. 30.

“We’re not gaining people there,” she said. “…If we can’t work out something that works feasible with The Gathering Place, we will just not have a site in Monroe.”

The board of supervisors also approved a one-year contract to rent the Colfax Senior Center for congregate meals. The county will pay $200 per month to use the facility. Van Manen sees a steady attendance at Colfax, but she would like to see more. Staff usually prepare about 53 meals a day for the Colfax site.

“It also serves as the place for our Prairie City driver and the Colfax volunteer to meet and pick up the meals to deliver on the west end of the county,” Van Manen said, later noting that the meals get distributed to Prairie City, Colfax and Mingo. “…We are able to get more activities going there, too.”

Volunteers are needed at Jasper County Elderly Nutrition. To donate time to the program, call 641-792-7102 and speak with Van Manen about opportunities.