Re-opening plans for the 91原创 seniors centre are still up in the air. But, in the meantime, one of its newest programs is taking off like gang busters.

The society, which operates the main centre on 51B Avenue, has been shut down for a couple of months now, but it has been anything but quiet 鈥� at least in the kitchen, said Paul Goldberg.

Response to a new take-out meal program, specifically but not exclusively designed for seniors, has 鈥渞eally taken off nicely,鈥� said Goldberg, executive director of the 91原创 Senior Resources Society (LSRS).

In normal times, the society operates a catering service, providing meals for weddings, banquets, celebrations of life, and more. But since COVID, Goldberg said that business 鈥� which offsets a considerable portion of the centre鈥檚 operating costs 鈥� has dried up.

That鈥檚 when the idea was floated of offering meals to go 鈥� to help offset some of the shortfall and to help people in the community.

The switch to this program, he said, 鈥渋s just a sign of the times.鈥�

It started off 鈥渟lowly鈥� a month and a half ago, and he said it鈥檚 gone from providing a handful of meals daily to centre regulars to providing upwards of 400 a week to a wide range of 91原创 residents.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 a pretty substantial volume, and it鈥檚 been ramping up quite a bit over the past six weeks, and it still seems to be rising. And, we鈥檙e up for the task,鈥� he elaborated, explaining how it is separate from the community鈥檚 Meals on Wheels program operated for shut-ins by another local agency.

It鈥檚 not a huge revenue generator, but helps keep the lights on at the seniors centre, Goldberg said, explaining that the hot meals are offered at a significant discount and aimed at isolated seniors who in past would typically attend the centre for at least one meal a day.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really more of a service for the community,鈥� he expanded. 鈥淏ut there鈥檚 also a lot of families who are taking advantage of these meals to go, so we鈥檙e not selling them only to seniors.鈥�

RELATED: 91原创 seniors centre offers meals-to-go during coronavirus crisis

With about three-quarters of the centre鈥檚 staff laid off, he explained there is a skeleton team operating the meal program 鈥� with assistance from volunteers 鈥� and offering some other administrative duties and outreach supports such as grocery shopping and counselling.

As for the centre鈥檚 recreational programs, Goldberg said nothing has been decided about when things will re-open, or in what form.

Just ahead of seniors week, Goldberg said there鈥檚 a board meeting set for Monday night. At that time, he expects to be given some direction for the next few weeks, and hopes to put a plan in place soon.

鈥淲e might be able to start doing a couple of things, but we鈥檙e not going to be opening the centre doors to the public any time soon,鈥� he said, noting some services might start up again by appointment only.

鈥淚n terms of a full-blown re-opening, that鈥檚 still some time down the road,鈥� he reiterated. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be cautious, start slow, and build up over time鈥� It鈥檚 going to be a week-by-week thing and we鈥檙e hoping to do a slow restart sometime soon.鈥�

He noted there will be no seniors week festivities or programs offered this year, and last year鈥檚 seniors of the year will simply wear the crown a little longer than expected 鈥� until June 2021.

In the meantime, the centre鈥檚 meals-to-go program continues. There鈥檚 a changing menu on the centre鈥檚 , with many buying as many as six meals at a time.

People can order and pickup discounted meals ($6 each) by calling 604-530-3020 ext. 315. All orders must be place by noon one day before pick up. There is also limited delivery available, Goldberg noted.

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