Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Laughter on the menu at Winsted senior dining



For those who attend Senior Dining in Winsted, laughter
and smiles are part of the menu, as is the home cooked food.

Senior Dining is served Monday through Friday at 11:30
a.m. in the American Legion.

Meals are provided to individuals 60 years of age or older,
although others are also welcome.

The price for 60 and above is $2.85. For those less than
60 years old, the price is $5.

It’s easy to attend Senior Dining. Just phone ahead one
day in advance to reserve a meal, said Louise Cordell, Senior Dining coordinator.
She has been coordinator for about five years.

Senior Dining is not limited to just Winsted residents,
volunteer Dorothy Entinger said. “We just had two new people from Lester
Prairie attend.”

It takes place all year around, but it does have its snow
days too, just like the schools do, Cordell said. Also, not everyone who
attends is more than 60. Some employees from EDCO of Winsted Products make
it for lunch, Cordell said.

Senior Dining is not all about lunch though. Bingo is played
Tuesdays, and cards are played Thursdays.

Bingo begins at 9:30 a.m and goes until about 11 a.m. each
Tuesday morning. It’s 50 cents for each Bingo card played, and winners receive
$1, unless it’s a tie. Then each gets 50 cents.

“We enjoy it,” commented volunteer Bingo caller
Leonard Rozeske. Leonard and his wife Irene both volunteer as callers,
and have been doing for about four years, Leonard said.

Thursdays is card playing, mostly Polish Poker, Straight
Euchre or Buck Euchre, and Sheephead.

George “Butch” Lachermeier volunteers his time
to play with the seniors and teach newcomers how to play.

The second Tuesday of the month, the group celebrates birthdays.

June birthdays were Lavern Entinger, Glenn Bathen, and
Luella Eckelberry. Entinger and Bathen were able to attend, but Eckelberry
was not, due to a broken hip.

Usually a person with the birthday brings cake for cake
and ice cream, Irene said.

One may come for only the activities if that person wants,
Irene said.

“Even though there are only two days a week with activities,
we try to bring treats on the other days,” Cordell said.

To help pay for the rent for Senior Dining, local organizations
donate money directly to the Legion, Leonard said.

That money enables Senior Dining to take place, Irene said.

Volunteers such as Lachermeier, Entinger, and the Rozeskes
are also an important part in Senior Dining.

A volunteer picks up residents at Linden Wood Apartments
and takes them to the Legion, Cordell said. Those who do not reside in Linden
Wood must find a ride.

Volunteers also pick up the food, which is prepared by
St. Mary’s, and serve it to the seniors. Another volunteer then drives meals
to seniors who cannot make it to the Legion, Cordell said.

“Senior Dining isn’t charity. It’s just something
fun to take part in,” Cordell said.

Weekly menus appear in the Journal on Page 2.

To call to reserve a meal, call the Legion at (320) 485-4366
between 10:30 a.m and 12:45 p.m. at and ask for Louise.

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