PAMPLICO — Seniors gathered for lunch at the Gibbs Procurement Center for a lunch of turkey and vegetables — all courtesy of a $35,000 grant and a partnership with the Leatherman Senior Center in Florence.
The money was used to prepare the center’s kitchen, located in an old elementary school Main Street, to be able to serve hot meals.
“There is a need in Pamplico for it. We have no other way of getting food to our seniors except through this center,” center chairman Andrew Wilson said.
About 30 seniors sat at tables that lined two walls of the room and a small island in the middle of the room Tuesday at noon.
“I just love it because it saves me from trying to cook at the house. I just enjoy getting this meal,” Evelyn Gainey said as she sat with friends to eat.
Without the meal, Gainey said, she’d likely be at home eating by herself.
Just getting together to eat was as important as the meal itself, she said.
The meal came complete with grace beforehand and a speech afterward by the person who arranged the grant, state Sen. Kent Williams of Marion.
Williams said he was approached about two years ago about the project. After the civic group submitted a proposal for the feeding center, the program got started.
“I asked them to send me a proposal and they did. We found the money and secured the grant to the tune of $35,000,” he said.
The initial grant money was used to prepare the kitchen, including ovens and a serving bar.
And while the grant got things started, Williams said, the project still isn’t finished.
The center plans to branch out to start serving another 30 to 35 seniors with a Meals on Wheels program, Wilson said.
“They’re about $10,000 short of doing a hood and a range. I thought we could look around and find some money whether it’s through private donations or whatever,” Williams said.
“We’re too close (not to finish this project),” the senator said.
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