Copperas Cove Senior Center has new director, food service manager, programs

By BRITTANY FHOLER

Cove Leader-Press 

The Copperas Cove Senior Center has a new Center Director and Food Service Manager and is starting a new delivery program for seniors in need.  

Jennifer Irvine is the center’s new director. Irvine started at the Senior Center over a year ago as a volunteer route driver for Meals on Wheels, which is dispatched through the Senior Center as part of the Hill Country Community Action Association. 

“She loved getting to know the seniors of our community, and when a position became available as the kitchen manager, she jumped at the opportunity. After a few months as the Food Service manager, the Center Director position became available, and Jennifer was the obvious choice,” said Katherine Dolson, who is now serving as the center’s Food Service manager.  “Her love for her job and how she cares about the seniors of our community as well as her experience helping people made her the ideal person to take over the center. Since she has taken over, more seniors have signed up for Meals on Wheels, in person meals and activities, as well as fundraisers being in the works for this year. The seniors that attend in person are very happy since Jennifer took over as the director.” 

The Copperas Cove Senior Center, located at 1012 North Drive, Suite 5, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Senior Center delivers Meals on Wheels to homebound senior citizens every Monday, delivering one hot meal, four frozen meals for later in the week, five cartons of milk and five snacks. 

There are currently more than 60 seniors signed up to receive Meals on Wheels in the Copperas Cove and Kempner area, according to Dolson. 

The Senior Center is always looking for volunteers to be route drivers for the Meals on Wheels program. 

Every Tuesday through Friday, Dolson cooks fresh, hot, and healthy meals for seniors that attend in person, with lunch served at 11:30 a.m. 

Seniors attending in person are asked to sign up or call ahead of time to ensure enough food is prepared for everyone in attendance. 

Seniors age 60 and up are asked to pay $3 per meal, while guests under 60 pay $5, and staff pay $7.25 per meal. Dolson said that seniors are not turned away or denied a meal if they are unable to pay, though. The Senior Center is also always accepting donations, she added. 

In addition to Meals on Wheels route drivers, there is also a need for volunteers to help prepare and bag the food for Meals on Wheels on Mondays between 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. as well as volunteers to help serve and clean up after the in-person meals and especially during events. 

The Senior Center offers daily activities, including daily Bible reading at 10 a.m. Every Monday, the center offers movie days at 9 a.m. and exercising at 8 a.m. Every Tuesday, there are jokers and marbles, crafts and other activities. Wednesdays are for bingo and raffles after lunch, around 12 p.m. Thursdays are puzzle days, and on Fridays, they offer exercising at 8 a.m. and bingo and raffles after lunch. 

The Senior Center also holds a Birthday Lunch on the first Wednesday of each month, Dining with Friends at a restaurant on the second Tuesday of each month, and a Potluck Lunch on the last Friday of each month. The calendar of events can be found on the Senior Center’s Facebook page: Seniors of Copperas Cove. 

Dolson said that the Senior Center is in the process of setting up a program called Home Essentials that will provide homebound and low-income seniors with a way to receive necessary essentials such as toilet paper, hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies, etc. at no cost to them, delivered to their door. 

“We are asking for donations of these supplies or monetary donations to help purchase these supplies,” Dolson said. 

The Copperas Cove Senior Center will be holding a fundraiser open to the public on October 12, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Copperas Cove Civic Center and City Park. The event will feature live music, an indoor vendor market, food trucks, games, bounce houses, and raffles. All money raised will go towards the Senior Center to help with the various programs such as Meals on Wheels, Home Essentials, and other programs. Those interested in volunteering at a games booth or wishing to make a donation or sponsor the event can reach out to Dolson at kdolson@hccaa.com for more information. 

For general volunteer questions about the Senior Center, you can call  the center at 254-547-6022 or email kdolson@hccaa.com or jirvine@hccaa.com.