By Lorraine Glowczak
In
response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Windham Parks and Recreation Department,
Windham Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and the Sebago Lakes Region
Chamber of Commerce have joined forces with local restaurants to offer free
meals to-go for senior residents ages 65 and above in the Windham community.
The
prepared meals will begin this Friday, May 8 with curb-side pick up from 11
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Windham Town Hall, 8 School Road, and will continue
every Friday at the same time until further notice. Individuals who are
interested in the free meals are requested to provide an RSVP to the Parks and
Recreation Department by calling 892-1905 or email at parks&recreation@windhammaine.us. The RSVP must be
submitted by noon on Thursdays.
“The
intention of the free senior meal to-go program is to give our seniors citizens
in need a healthy food option while at the same time, help Windham restaurants
keep working and stay busy,” stated Linda Brooks, Director of the Windham Parks
and Recreation Department. She further explained the town has scholarship money
set aside for senior programming. Following the lead from the Saco Parks and Recreation
Department, who has started a similar free food plan, Brooks thought offering
something similar in Windham would be a great option for the community.
“When
I approached Tom Bartell, Director of the WEDC and Robin Mullins, Director of
the Chamber about this idea, they both thought it was a perfect way to use the
scholarships funds to assist both seniors and area businesses,” Brooks said.
The
WEDC and Chamber then approached Windham restaurants to see who might be
interested in participating.
“When
I received a call from Tom about this free meal to go program, I was on board
immediately,” stated Nick Kalogerakis, owner of the Elbow Room Bistro. Kalogerakis
had already begun a similar free senior meal program on his own at his
restaurant when the COVID-19 social distancing measures began.
“I
wanted to make sure there were no seniors going hungry, “he stated. “We are an older
state and I am concerned about those who do not have siblings or children to
look in after them. So, I was very happy that they called me to be a part of
this collaboration.”
Frank
Merced, owner of Franco’s Bistro, is also participating with the town on this
endeavor. “I received a call from Robin Mullins at the Chamber, and I thought
it was a fabulous idea,” Merced began. “We are all struggling – including
myself – and I want to be a part of the solution in this struggle and help in
any way I can.”
Each
week, a participating restaurant will be selected to make the meals. The Elbow
Room Bistro will be the first to offer toward the food-to-go program and the initial
menu item to be offered will be Shephard’s Pie with gravy. Next Friday’s meal,
offered by Franco’s Bistro, will include either lasagna or fettuccine with
meatballs.
Brooks
noted that the free curb-side meal to go for seniors will follow social
distancing recommendations. Individuals will be able to easily pick up meal’s
curbside in the town’s parking lot.
If
you would like to sponsor this program, please notify Mark Morrison, Mark.morrison815@gmail.com. If you would like
to be a participating restaurant, please notify Robin Mullins,
director@sebagolakeschamber.com.
It has been incredible to witness the community banding together. Thank
you for continuing to support Windham Seniors and local restaurants.
