Tingley meal site ‘back in business’ after tornado
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
The tornado that went through the town of Tingley, April 26 left more than buildings destroyed.
Approximately 18-20 seniors, whose daily routine of attending the Tingley meal site on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays were without a place to call their home away from home.
The Tingley Community Building, where the meals were held, was a victim of the tornado and totally destroyed.
A lot of seniors thought the tornado’s destruction of the community building was the beginning of the end of the meal site program. A week of boredom for most of these seniors set in along with a multitude of thoughts centering on what exactly was going to happen had many depressed.
After many offers of relocation possibilities Nancy Jarred, director of the meal site, along with Connections Area Agency on Aging’s, Director of Health Living Programs, Sherri Carson looked at the feasibility of relocating Tingley’s Meal Site to the American Legion Post 0541, located in Ellston.
The facility met the criteria required, and the decision was made to relocate, by Sherri Carson, with doors to be opened on Monday, May 6.
Over the weekend, the food warmer that was salvaged from the Tingley Community Building along with tubs containing Bingo cards, dominoes, jigsaw puzzles and miscellaneous kitchen items were moved to the temporary site in Ellston.
Jarred had everything ready to welcome her flock of elders back to their home away from home with open arms.
Jarred and some of the seniors expressed their feelings on the new location.
Iona Triggs, Judy Cooper, Lee Brand and Phyllis Hill enjoy a game of dominoes at the relocated Tingley Meal Site whose home in Tingley was destroyed by a tornado earlier this month. The group is now meeting at the American Legion Post 0541 in Ellston until a new home in Tingley is rebuilt.
The feelings expressed had a general theme, with Lee Brand expressing the theme the best.
“It is not Tingley, a bit more confined space, but serves at the moment,” said Brand.
Phyllis Hill said, “At least we are together.”
Mary Brand stated, “It is not home (referring to the Tingley Community Building), but I’m here for the long run.”
Judy Cooper said, “I like it!”
Seniors may not run marathons, but their energy is strong, real, and contagious.
During the time at the meal site, a domino game was in full swing Hot meals were being delivered, stored in the food warmer, and cooler for the lunch of the day. Lots of energy, lots of smiles and a connection of fellowship visible between these seniors was apparent.
