Senior Congregate Dining Offers More Than Lunch

By Sandy Illian Bosch

Stop by Salerno Pincente Ristorante any weekday at lunchtime and you are likely to find Ed Kuchta and Roman Rebering sharing a meal.

“I’m here every day,” said Rebering, a resident of Hodgkins and a regular at the daily meals offered by Aging Care Connections in LaGrange.

Kuchta and Rebering didn’t know each other before they each discovered the program, which offers a mid-day meal to people 60 and older every weekday for a suggested donation of $2. Now, the men are daily lunch companions and friends.

“It’s no fun to eat alone,” said Barbara Kennedy of Indian Head Park. Kennedy heard about the daily lunches through a girlfriend and has been attending nearly every day for several years. “There are usually six of us,” Kennedy said. The women gather for bingo on Mondays and Thursdays, Po-keno on Tuesdays and an occasional game of bunco, along with lunch.

She said Site Coordinator Diane Brown is always coming up with something fun for diners to do before or after their meal. Recently, she planned a senior prom.The Congregate Meal Program also is a valuable resource for seniors, with links to other services and programs available in the area.

The Congregate Meals program is available to adults 60 and older for a suggested daily donation of $2. Meals are served Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Salerno Pincente Ristorante, 9301 W. 63rd St., Hodgkins.

Brown said she can always expect a crowd when the menu calls for breaded pork tenderloin. The meals must comply with the menu planning standards based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and meet minimum requirements of the Dietary Reference Intakes.

A typical day attracts about 40 diners, Brown said. And there is room for many more.

To register for a meal, call Aging Care Connections 708-354-1323 before noon one weekday before you wish to dine.The program also is in need of volunteers to help Brown run lunchtime activities. The monthly menu is available at the restaurant, at Aging Care Connections, 111 W. Harris, LaGrange, and at www.agingcareconnections.org.