No meals skipped at senior center

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NAUGATUCK — Borough organizations and individuals have stepped up to ensure that no one misses a meal at the Naugatuck Senior Center.

In early April, New Opportunities Inc. in Waterbury announced cuts in nutrition programs due to budgetary woes. As part of the cuts, New Opportunities stopped serving meals for seniors at several area locations, including the Naugatuck Senior Center.

Despite the cuts, the meals have gone on at the senior center.

“We have not missed a beat here in Naugatuck,” Senior Center Director Harvey Leon Frydman said.

Frydman said various civic groups, businesses, and individuals have donated food for the Wednesday meal the past few weeks.

“I’m very proud that we have not dropped the ladle,” he said.

Mary Kate Gill, director of elder services at New Opportunities, which administers Greater Waterbury’s Meals on Wheels program, previously said announced cuts in the federal Social Service Block Grants necessitated the cuts in services.

Gill said last week she still hasn’t gotten word on whether more funding will become available through federal funds and the state Department on Aging.

“We still have people on the Meals on Wheels waiting list who are getting no food at all,” Gill said.

She said New Opportunities is increasing fundraising efforts to attempt to make up the shortfall.

“It’s not going to solve our problem, but it certainly helps us,” Gill said.

Frydman described the community’s assistance to the seniors as heartwarming.

“We all deal with economic tough times. There’s a saying, ‘Where there’s a will there’s way.’”

Elio Gugliotti contributed to this article.