Special to The Truth
Thanks to the generosity of Buckeye Broadband and the Northwest Ohio Area Office on Aging Foundation, hundreds of older adults had a little extra hop in their steps with free Easter meals. On Easter Sunday, 150 older adults were eating lunch prepared by J’Mae’s Home Cooking Restaurant at Senior Centers Inc., 2308 Jefferson Avenue, Toledo, OH 43604. The Easter Bunny made an appearance for photos with those in attendance.
Live music was provided by Gene Zenz. While the festivities were scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. the doors opened at noon. This was a great opportunity to share a meal with others on the holiday, socialize as well as to make new friends. Easter can be a lonely time of year for many older adults who may have recently lost a spouse or other loved ones.
The Area Office on Aging encouraged those who were able to do so to invite an older adult they knew who might be lonely to join them for this holiday meal. It might just help improve the health and well-being of the older adult. A recent study found that for those who identify as being lonely, it has a negative impact on their health equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Meals were also separately being provided for the holiday to residents at several affordable senior apartments as well as to many grandparents and relatives raising children.