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Dear Editor,

For many seniors, particularly those with underlying health conditions, gathering together indoors in large public dining rooms poses a serious risk. This makes the impending loss of all weekday take-out lunch service at Active Life Centers in Hogansville and West Point a critical issue for those most vulnerable to Covid-19. Take-out lunches were curtailed beginning May 16 and will be phased out entirely at the end of June. It is hard to understand why the State of Georgia has cut funding for the “to-go” option, given the current growth in virus caseloads. We urge local leaders and the Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging to convince the State to reinstate the “to-go” meals.

After Covid-19 shuttered the Hogansville Senior Center entirely for months, we were delighted when it resumed meal service in its “to-go” format, which enabled participants who are not home-bound to request a daily “to-go” meal by phone and then drop by to pick it up to consume at home.

This has helped us shelter in place, limit exposure to crowds, and rely on familiar menus. With Omicron case counts now rising, the need for “to-go” meals is only increasing.

As volunteers and participants in the Hogansville Senior Center’s programs for two decades, we appreciate Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging’s mission “to promote independence and well-being for older persons . . . .”  During this on-going Federal public health emergency, Three Rivers, the Troup County Council on Aging, and the Troup County Board of Commissioners should use their first-hand experience serving seniors to lobby the State of Georgia to reinstate 5-day per week take-out lunch service and continue it indefinitely.

Mildred and Ila Burdette

Hogansville