A beloved seniors’ lunch program in Burnaby has returned after a pandemic hiatus — and program organizers want more folks to join in on the fun.
The community lunch table program, run by the Confederation Seniors’ Association at the Confederation Community Seniors’ Centre, has been providing healthy, low-cost meals for seniors aged 55 and over for three decades.
Les Blanchard, a recent board member of the association, said the lunch program is important because it’s a place where seniors can come and meet other seniors, especially after the pandemic.
“That’s the aim, is to get seniors together,” he said.
“They were yearning for somewhere to meet other people (during the pandemic), even though they had to wear masks and all the rest of it.”
The lunch program serves up a wide variety of meals (ranging from hamburgers to clam chowder to fish and chips to chicken cordon bleu and more – with a tasty dessert and coffee, of course) for $10 a meal from Tuesday to Friday.
“Sometimes it’s worthwhile going just for the dessert,” Blanchard said with a laugh.
But the seniors’ association was facing multiple challenges in recent years, including the previous chef retiring and rampant inflation. Then the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the program.
But a recent “miracle” donation and help from the City of Burnaby has meant the resurgence of the program.
Blake Elliot, known as “Mister Blake” of the misterBlake Foundation gave an undisclosed amount to support the community lunch table.
The City of Burnaby also stepped in to provide for the chef and the dishwasher, according to Blanchard.
The City of Burnaby’s Citizen Support Services department, which helps seniors live independently, drives seniors from around the city to the lunch program several times a month with the support of volunteer drivers.
The meal gets seniors involved in a variety of other activities hosted by the association, ranging from bingo to chess to line dancing and more — the association runs about 60 programs in total.
Blanchard noted many seniors might not know about the program, which started up again about six weeks ago.
“It’s reminding the people — we’re back!”
For lunch hours, café hours and more information about the community lunch table program and the Confederation Seniors’ Association, call 604-294-1936 or visit the centre in person at 4585 Albert St.
You can find out more about city programs for seniors on Burnaby’s Citizen Support Services website and register for the programs online.
