Polson Seniors: We deliver more than food

I volunteered as a driver for a couple of days last week. My greatest reward was when one of my 16 meal-delivery clients commented: “This is the greatest part of my day!”

I told her it makes my day too and we parted ways with a smile and a giggle. As I drove away, I felt sad for her loneliness, and then glad that I could make her happy, at least for a little while. It is more than food that we deliver.

Volunteer drivers are needed for Monday-Friday Meals on Wheels deliveries. The route starts about 10:30 a.m. and takes about an hour. Pick your day or days to deliver; substitutes are welcome as well.

Save sturdy plastic bags for us. We use 300 bags every months for commodity food distributions. We need to purchase these if they are not provided by donation.

Activities at the Polson center, open to all, include: low-impact exercise, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; pinochle, noon-3 p.m. Thursdays (free cookies, coffee and fun); bingo, 7 p.m. Fridays ($100 payout on blackouts), with playing card bingo on the first and third Wednesdays. The pool table is open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays. Mahjong players gather at noon Wednesdays (great brain exercise).

A veteran’s representative visits the center from 10 a.m.-noon on the first Friday and third Tuesday of each month.

Meals are available for sit-down, take-out or delivery from 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. weekdays and cost $5. The menu is posted each week at the center; call before 10 a.m. for deliveries.

Upcoming main dishes include meatloaf, July 20; hash-brown bake with link sausage, July 21; chicken noodle soup, July 24; teriyaki chicken, July 25; Catalina taco salad, July 26; corn dogs, July 27; and birthday lunch with roast turkey, July 28.

The center is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays at 504 3rd Ave. E. For more information, call 406-883-4735 or email polsonseniorcenter@gmail.com. Submit your email address for updates and additional information from the center.