Even with the dining room closed, Friendly Door continues to serve

Friendly Door Senior Citizen’s Center Executive Director Dana Polly announced this week the center continues to be on lockdown due to Covid-19, and at this time they don’t look to open any time soon.

With the help of volunteers they are still able to deliver to all of our Meals on Wheels clients. Also, they are offering carry out to all congregate clients. Anyone, even if not a client, can reserve a meal for carry out. However, you must call and reserve the meal the day before. The center is also still able to offer their van service for transportation to clients going to appointments in Iowa Park.

Last week Friendly Door sent out approximately 150 Covid-19 relief bags with a letter of concern and list of who made them possible to all of their clients.

“With the donations from Lowes’, Yesway, Iowa Park Health Care Center, Royal Estates and ourselves, we were able to send out extra food and small toiletry items to all of our clients. We would not have been able to do this without the help from our gracious community,” said Polly. “I want to also say thank you to our volunteers for all they have done to help us ensure the meals are delivered to our seniors during this trying time. During this time many of our senior adults are confined to their homes, the one thing they look forward to each day is being able to visit with the volunteer that brings their meal.”

Polly pointed out that we tend to forget the hardship COVID-19 has put on the seniors of our community.

“When you stop to think, many of them don’t have family here that can come and check on them daily. They don’t have internet, like most of us do. They sit with their TV and if lucky their animals all day, just wishing they could have a few short minutes to visit with someone, anyone. Those short few minutes that they are able to see the volunteer who delivers their meal is at times the highlight of their day. They look forward it every day. We need to all stop and take a minute to think about our neighbors during this time,” said Polly.

Friendly Door is trying to get items together now to send out a second round of relief bags to the seniors in our community. They are taking donations of food and small toiletry times.

“The things needed are in dividually wrapped toilet paper, small soap, hand sanitizer, canned meat, soup, bottled water, peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers, chips, puzzle books, pens, ect. Things that are considered travel or snack size. No donation is too small,” she said.

Contact Friendly Door at 592-9311 with any questions concerning the relief bags, Meals on Wheels, congregate meals or if you have a question about what they might be able to offer you or a loved one.

“There are not any activities going on in the center but we are hoping to change that as soon as the lock down is over.

We have been making updates to the dining room, exercise and game areas. We look forward to having everyone back with us. We truly do miss seeing our friends, listening to their stories, hearing the laughter fill the room and seeing their bright shiny faces every day,” said Polly. “I also want to welcome our new head cook Richard Wright. He has been with us for three weeks now and is fitting in great here at Friendly Door.”