Seniors eat free in Austintown

The Austintown Generational Enrichment volunteer group is a step closer to bringing a senior center to town.

Beginning Sept. 1, a free senior meal program will be provided at 100 Westchester Dr., across from Joseph Knight senior apartments, for Mahoning County residents over the age of 60.

It will run Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and offer a well-balanced meal and other activities like cards, crafts, bingo, movies and day trips for seniors.

“We talked to other senior centers and they said a meal program would get people together and could be the beginning of a full-time center,” said generational volunteer Bill Adams.

The meals and free transportation will be provided by Celtic Healthcare and funded by the Older Americans Act, but donations for the program will also be accepted.

The space for the meals is being donated by Austintown Township through the end of the year. Adams said he hopes the program will be a success and that at the beginning of the year it can be offered five days a week.

Senior citizens interested in participating in the meal program must contact Celtic at 330-884-2511 and complete an application. Space is limited. Menus are available at www.celtichealthcare.com/hotmeals.php.