Senior citizens meals to be served at school

Valley Meals on Wheels has announced it will begin serving senior meals at Otis Orchards Elementary School, 22000 E. Wellesley Ave., at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Pam Almeida, executive director of Valley Meals on Wheels said this is the first time it has offered senior meals at a school.

“Hopefully some of the seniors will stay and help out with the kids,” she said, adding she hopes the seniors can play games or read to the students.

She said the students will be fed first in the multipurpose room. She also hoped the students could help out with the seniors during their lunch.

The meals will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays for a suggested price although no one will be turned away.

Almeida said the other location in that area is Liberty Lake City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive, Mondays and Wednesdays. She feels the new location at Otis Orchards can fill in for the other two days a week.

“It’s a neat partnership between East Valley School District and ourselves,” Almeida said. She was chatting with Superintendent John Glenewinkel one day when the idea formed.

“Our mission is to prolong the ability of elderly and disabled persons throughout the Spokane area to remain living in their own homes by providing nutritious meals,” Almeida said. “We see this as a move to fulfill our mission.”