In a cost-cutting move, the Salvation Army will move its Golden Diners program for senior citizens from the Harvard Senior Center to a private restaurant.
Beginning Monday, seniors can enjoy each others’ company while eating their meal at the Harmilda Cow Cafe, 21 N. Ayer St., just a half-block away from the senior center.
The change was made in hopes of increasing participation of the program, as well as saving money for the Salvation Army. Of the 1,600 seniors in the Harvard area, only about 10 come to the center for the meal, said Maj. Everett Jordan, director of the Golden Diner Program.
“The cost was prohibitive,” Jordan said. “We did not have enough people to keep it open.”
The hours for the meals will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The expanded hours will allow seniors to go to the restaurant whenever they want, and no reservations are required, said Guinn Gonzalez, a senior who participates in the program.
“Before they were strict on the reservations,” Gonzalez said. If you didn’t sign up, you couldn’t eat.”
Even with the dining program moving out of the senior center, 12 N. Ayer St., the city will continue to lease the building for socializing by senior citizens.
“We opened the center and made it available for seniors, and we have every intention of keeping it open,” said Harvard Mayor Ralph Henning.
In 1996, the Salvation Army served 2,500 meals in the Harvard area and looks to double that figure by moving the program to a restaurant, Jordan said.
By making the program available, the Salvation Army not only provides nutritional meals for seniors, but also gives them a chance to socialize with their peers, Jordan said.
