Congregate Meals

Congregate Meals: What are they and how do they benefit you?

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging offers congregate meals at senior community centers and other locations throughout the state, providing older adults with nutritious meals and opportunities for socialization. These programs are federally funded through the Older Americans Act.

What are they?

Congregate meals are meals served in a group setting, such as senior centers, community centers, or other locations.

Who is eligible?

Here at the Friendship Senior Center, individuals residing in Dauphin County aged 60 and older are eligible. Spouses of eligible participants, regardless of age, are eligible when accompanying an eligible participant to the congregate meal. People volunteering their time to the congregate meal program are also eligible regardless of their age.

Benefits:

The program provides nutritious meals as well as offering opportunities for socialization, interaction with peers, and participation in activities.

Funding:

The cost of a meal is $6.31. While the meals are offered free to participants, donations to offset the federal funding are accepted and appreciated.

Location & Serving Days:

The Friendship Senior Center, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11 AM to Noon. The meals must be eaten on site.

Needs Assessment Form:

The needs assessment form must be filled out once per year. Please stop at the Friendship Senior Center front desk (M-F 8:30 to noon) to fill one out. This must be done before signing up for your first meal.

Registration for each meal is required!

Make sure that you have already filled out your annual needs assessment form (required once a year).

Signup the week before the requested meal. Signup sheets will be available on each day a meal is being served. See sign up schedule to the left.

Alternatively, call the center at 717-657-1547 to register for a meal.