Lunch Program Turns the Corner

Kitchen staff member Debbie Schwaberow (right) and volunteers serve lunch to about 60 people on Feb. 14. Executive Director Lisa Blair was able to negotiate special pricing with Little Caesars for the center’s monthly Pizza Day.

Due to creative thinking by our executive director and the hard work of our kitchen staff and volunteers, our Senior Nutrition Program is in the midst of a dramatic turnaround. ​

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the lunch program was one of the highlights of the senior center, regularly serving 75 or more attendees five days per week. Since the program was funded in large part through a government subsidy program, the senior center was able to offer lunch for just $3.50 for seniors over age 60. Due to the way that the funding worked, lunch fees were collected as a donation.

However, all of this changed after the pandemic. The senior center had been closed to members for over two years. Many seniors were still concerned about the risk of attending a public event and prices of food and supplies had increased significantly. 

Dave Tosch, our executive director at the time, also realized that the subsidy program just wasn’t working for us anymore. Administering the program to federal standards meant that meals had to be planned months in advance with a regional coordinator. This limited our ability to save money by incorporating items we found on short sales.

This combination of factors created a real struggle for the nutrition program. So Tosch made the decision to cut ties with the federal program and fund the program in-house. He also eliminated Monday lunch, which was our lowest performing lunch day, and raised the price of lunch.

Nearly a year after reopening the senior center, it was clear that more significant changes needed to be made to revive the lunch program. Attendance was still less than half of what it was pre-pandemic and the program was consistently running at a loss. So during the transition in executive leadership in the summer of 2024, Tosch and incoming director, Lisa Blair, spent significant effort to rethink its operation.

Ron Paslay has been a lunch program volunteer for many years, wrapping silverware in the mornings and bussing plates and silverware after people finish their meal.

First, Tosch and Blair decided to reduce staff from a full-time lunch manager to a part-time employee. Blair then took the reigns, reorganizing the program to make it more cost effective and efficient. She developed a simpler menu with items that were easier to prepare, bringing the workload in line with the reduced staff. Commercial food supplier costs had skyrocketed post-pandemic, so she significantly cut back on the use of these delivery services. Instead, she now does most of the shopping herself, taking advantage of sales at local retailers. She is also training Debbie Schwaberow, our kitchen staffer, to help with the purchases, and all of the administrative staff keep an eye out for special sales to add value to the menu.

Word is getting out to our members that the lunch program has improved, and slowly but consistently attendance is increasing. A year ago we were averaging 30-35 people per lunch; we are now seeing 45-50. Full lunchrooms with 90-100 people are becoming more and more frequent.
At the same time, Blair has made a dramatic turnaround in operating costs. Instead of running thousands of dollars in the red each month, the lunch program has achieved positive cash flow. This has allowed us to add more options to the menu and has given us the opportunity to add a Volunteer Appreciation Day to offer all of our volunteers a free lunch once a month. We continue to seek more options to improve the lunch program through additional corporate sponsors.

---

Lunch at the senior center is not just about the meal — it’s also about socializing and interacting with friends and visitors. With loneliness being such a huge concern amongst the senior population, social outlets like our lunch program play a very important role in the community.

If you have not attended the lunch program recently, we invite you to give it a try. Lunch is only $5 for members, their family and kids under 12. Payment is collected at the door. Nonmembers may also attend for $10 per person. You must RSVP at least one business day in advance so that we can prepare the appropriate amount of food. To register, call our office at (509) 662-7036 or visit our website at wenatcheeseniorcenter.com/lunch-program.