Brattleboro Senior Meals is a private nonprofit agency that is designed to provide a nutritious daily meal to people over 60 living in the Brattleboro area. We are supported in part by the older Americans Act.
Background
In 1965, the older Americans Act identified of a series of broad objectives aimed at improving the lives of older Americans. In 1972, the act was amended to create a national nutrition program, and to authorize grants to public and nonprofit agencies for the development of congregate meal services for the elderly. In 1973, the Act was further amended to create a network of Area Agencies on Aging (AAA’s), which were given the major responsibility for planning, coordinating, and advocating local programs that would benefit older people. Out of this Act, the Vermont Office on Aging was created and it, in turn, designated seven Area Agencies throughout Vermont. In 1977 a consolidation took place resulting in five Area Agencies.
Senior Solutions out of Springfield Vermont, (formerly known as Council on Aging for Southeastern Vermont- COASEVT) has been identified as the Area Agency of Aging that oversees Brattleboro Senior Meals. Senior Solutions provides nutritional guidance by a registered dietitian and disperses the Older Americans Act funding to Brattleboro senior meals.
In 1977, the Senior Meals Program in Brattleboro was run under the umbrella of the Council on Aging for Southeastern Vermont. All decisions regarding menu, finances, fund raising, programs and staffing were run by COASEVT. In 2002, COSEVT wanted to begin discussions about dissolving the kitchen and ability to cook at the Brattleboro site as a result of a push from the Federal government to divest itself from direct meal services.
Brattleboro Senior Meals
Not wanting to forfeit autonomy of the program, a group of concerned seniors worked to set up Brattleboro Senior Meals as an independent non profit in 2003. A nutrition committee was formed and worked closely with Senior Solutions in developing a successful model for the current structure of Brattleboro Senior Meals. Senior Solutions is still the conduit for the Older Americans Act money and each year since 2004 , renews its contract with Brattleboro Senior Meals to provide daily meals to seniors from the greater Brattleboro area.
Current Operations
Brattleboro Senior Meals works out of the Brattleboro Senior Center in the Gibson Aiken Building at 207 Main Street in Brattleboro. We run a noontime congregate meal program five days a week and the Meals On Wheels program bringing nutritious meals to the homebound. We can be reached at the site Monday through Friday between 8AM and 3PM, by phone at 802-257-1236 or by email director@brattleboroseniormeals.org.
On this site, you’ll find:
- Our monthly menu
- Volunteer opportunities
- Brattleboro Senior Center
- Meals On Wheels
- Congregate Dining
If you have any questions, please contact us!