Gray Gourmet, Mesa County’s senior nutrition program, announces the opening of a new dining site for seniors in Palisade. The weekly lunch program will be held on Tuesdays at the Palisade Community Center (120 W. 8th Street). Opening day celebration for the new lunch location will be Tuesday, January 26th. Doors open at 11:00 am, with lunch served at 12 noon. In addition to the lunch, there will be musical guests, announcements, door prizes, and cake. The suggested donation for the hot lunch is $3.50 for seniors age 60 and older. Under 60 guests are welcome at the full price of $7.75 for lunch. Reservations are required by calling the office no later than 1-day in advance 970-243-9844 x1.
Gray Gourmet has partnered with the Town of Palisade to bring this program to the area residents. The lunch programs will be featured in the Town’s Activity Guides. Entertainment or educational programs will be featured on a monthly basis – usually on the last Tuesday of the month. Gray Gourmet will also host special events around recognized holidays as well. “Our luncheon programs provide essential social gatherings and a regular meeting place for seniors,” offered Marsha Kosteva, Program Manager. “While the focus is our hot and healthy lunch, the chance to meet friends and share experiences is core to the program,” she added.
Gray Gourmet sponsors nine dining site locations where more active seniors gather daily for a hot lunch. “Our meals are served with love by area volunteers,” said Dining Site Program Coordinator, Sheli Apodaca. “No one is turned away because of inability to contribute,” she added. The menu on the 26th will feature chicken fried steak, potatoes, gravy, tossed salad, fruit, and a dinner roll. Milk and coffee are also served.
Established in 1974, Gray Gourmet prepares and serves nearly 500 meals each weekday from a central kitchen on Chipeta Avenue in Grand Junction. The program offers meals on wheels service to nearly 300 homebound seniors a day, from Fruita to Palisade. Gray Gourmet’s other community dining sites (Grand Junction–4 locations, Clifton and Fruita), serve a hot lunch most weekdays to more mobile seniors age 60 and older. The program currently offers weekly service in Collbran and Mesa. In 2014, the program prepared and served over 110,000 meals to Mesa County seniors. Each meal meets 1/3 of the current daily recommended dietary allowances and nutrition requirements for seniors set by the State. Menus are approved by Gray Gourmet’s Registered Dietitian. Gray Gourmet has been sponsored by St. Mary’s Hospital since 1989.
Reservations to participate at any Gray Gourmet community dining site are required by calling the Gray Gourmet office at (970) 243-9844 x1. For home delivery information, call the office, extension 5. Contact Gray Gourmet at (970) 243-9844 or visit www.stmarygj.org/senior-services for more program details and to view the monthly menu. The Gray Gourmet program is also posted: www.townofpalisade.org/departments/parks-and-recreation.
