Area Agency on Aging of East Texas to Reopen Senior Meal Sites to the Public
Area Agency on Aging of East Texas • July 12, 2021
The Area Agency on Aging of East Texas(AAA) is pleased to announce the reopening of senior centers serving congregate meals
in Camp, Marion, Harrison, Rains, and Wood counties starting on July 12. The meal sites closed to the public in March of 2020 to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, the AAA continued serving clients in the senior nutrition program by offering meals through delivery or pickup.
The AAA expends about $2.4 million for the senior nutrition program annually in East Texas, serving approximately 4,000 seniors. We contract with the Meals on Wheels Ministry of Tyler to serve six counties, the Meals on Wheels of Palestine for three counties, and the AAA serves as a direct provider for six counties. The program provides nutritious meals to older individuals (60 and over) through congregate meal sites and home-delivered meals.
AAA meal sites reopening on July 12:
Marshall Senior Center Open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
106 E. Crockett Street
Marshall, TX 75670
Marshall #2 Senior Center Open Monday – Friday, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Oak Leaf Apartments - 113 Oakley Dr.
Marshall, TX 75670
Jefferson Senior Center
Open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
111 W. Broadway
Jefferson, TX 75657
UT Health Pittsburg
Open Monday – Friday, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
2701 U.S. Highway 271 N.
Pittsburg, TX 75686
Emory Senior Center
Open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
179 Doris Briggs Pkwy.
Emory, TX 75440
Waskom Senior Center
Open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
165 Texas Ave.
Waskom, TX 75692
*Reopened June 14*
Yantis Senior Center
Open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
100 City Circle
Yantis, TX 75497
"Our hearts go out to our participants who have faced illness, death, and the loss of loved ones during the pandemic. We are grateful to the staff at the senior nutrition sites, which continued to serve our seniors," said ETCOG's Director of Aging, Bettye Mitchell. "This program is vital to help reduce social isolation of those who are homebound or in rural areas. Many of our clients use the congregate meal sites to engage with other seniors through games, conversations, and activities, so we are excited to reopen and bring seniors together to reconnect."
Find out if you are eligible for the senior nutrition program by calling 1-800-442-8845. The AAA offers sponsored public transportation to the senior centers through a partnership with GoBus.
The Marshall-Harrison County Health District invites community members to attend the next Building Healthy Futures class, Navigating Aging, on Thursday, July 30, at 1:00 p.m. at the Harrison County AgriLife Extension Office (2005 Warren Drive, Marshall, Texas). Presented by the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas, this free educational class is designed to introduce older adults, caregivers, and family members to valuable programs and resources that support healthy, independent living. Participants will learn about the Area Agency on Aging's evidence-based intervention programs, which are designed to promote wellness, prevent falls, manage chronic health conditions, and improve overall quality of life. Attendees will also enjoy a nutritious snack provided during the class. In addition to the presentation, the Area Agency on Aging will conduct a brief community survey to gather input on the types of aging-related classes and services residents would like to see offered in Marshall and Harrison County. Community feedback will help shape future educational opportunities to better meet local needs. "Building Healthy Futures is about connecting our community with trusted resources that support health and well-being at every stage of life," said Jennifer Hancock, Executive Director of the Marshall-Harrison County Health District. "We're excited to partner with the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas to learn more about the classes and services they offer." The class is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended by visiting mhchd.org or by contacting the Marshall-Harrison County Health District at 903-938-8338.
Each May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month, and this year’s theme was “Champion Your Health.” In recognition of the month, the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas hosted three community events in Jacksonville, Marshall, and Athens, bringing together older adults, caregivers, staff, volunteers, and community partners to celebrate healthy aging and support older adults’ independence. More than 420 people attended the three events, where they received information and heard from experts on senior services, exercise programs, fraud and scams, and ways to take an active role in managing their health. Activities included on-site health screenings, evidence-based activity demonstrations, a Dementia Live demonstration, and the TxDOT Car Fit Program for Seniors. At some events, local officials also read proclamations recognizing May as Older Americans Month, including Cherokee County Judge Chris Davis, who presented the proclamation in Jacksonville. “We encourage older East Texans and their caregivers to connect with our agency to learn more about the resources and services available to help them live independently and remain active in their communities,” said Adrian Cornejo, ETCOG’s Director of the Area Agency on Aging. Special thanks to all event partners, sponsors, volunteers, AAA staff, and participants who helped make these Older Americans Month events a success!
