Click here for details on how you can participate in ‘A Meal on Us’ program until December 30, 2011

Ocean State Senior Dining

The Congregate meal program provides hot, nutritious meals to seniors throughout Providence and Little Compton. The program has 8 dining sites in various locations throughout the city of Providence. Dining rooms are open Monday through Friday. All meals meet 1/3 of the dietary reference intake for seniors and are approved by a registered dietitian.

Transportation is available to the closest dining room to those who are 60 years of age and older, or people under the age of 60 who are disabled or receive general public assistance.

For further information on transportation to the nearest dining location, please contact the RIDE Program at 1-800-479-6902.

Eligibility:

A person is eligible for the congregate meal program if he/she is:

• 60 years of age or older
• Handicapped or disabled and living in a housing facility where a meal program is operated.
• A guest under 60 years of age may only receive a meal, when doing so will not deprive a senior participant of a meal.

Enrollment:

Enrollment information is important for both reporting and statistical purposes. All enrollment forms are confidential and contain the following:

• Name
• Address and phone number
• Date of Birth
• Social Security Number
• Sex
• Ethnicity
• Lives alone or with someone
• Receives Supplement Security Income (SSI) or State Supplement (SSP)
• Name and phone numbers of an emergency contact
• If at nutritional risk

Once enrolled, a participant calls the dining site to make their meal reservation.

Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance.

MEALS ARE SERVED AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

The program’s current recommended donation is $3.00 to help defray the cost of the meal. However, no one is refused a meal because of his or her inability to pay. The donation is anonymous and unmarked envelopes are provided.

CARROLL TOWERS : (401) 751-6400
243 SMITH STREET
PROVIDENCE, RI  02908
Meals served @ 11:30 Mon – Fri

FEDERAL HILL HOUSE : (401) 421-4722
9 COURTLAND STREET
PROVIDENCE, RI  02909
Meals served @ 11:30 Mon – Fri

FOX POINT SENIOR CENTER : (401) 751-2217
90 IVES STREET
PROVIDENCE, RI  02906
Meals served @ 12:00 Mon – Fri

LITTLE COMPTON COMMUNITY CENTER : (401) 635-2400
34 THE COMMONS
LITTLE COMPTON, RI 02837
Meals served @ 12:00 Mon, Wed and Fri

ST. ELIZABETH PLACE : (401) 273-1090
700 WESTMINSTER STREET
PROVIDENCE, RI  02903
Meals served @ 12:00 Mon – Fri

SEDC: (401) 247-8811
270 ELMWOOD AVENUE
PROVIDENCE, RI  02907
Meals served @ 12:00 Wed – Fri

ST. MARTIN DE PORRES : (401) 274-6783
160 CRANSTON STREET
PROVIDENCE, RI  02907
Meals served @ 11:30 Mon – Fri

WESTMINSTER SENIOR CENTER : (401) 274-6900
133 MATHEWSON STREET
PROVIDENCE, RI  02903
Meals served @ 12:00 Mon – Fri

Most of the host centers provide valuable information for seniors and most of the centers also provide daily activities such as line dancing, bingo, exercise and guest speakers.

From time to time special nutrition educational workshops take place at the various sites.

The Nutrition Council

The Nutrition Council is an advisory group, which is made up of two members from each dining room. These individuals must be regular diners at a dining site.

The Council plays an active role in developing the monthly menu with the assistance of a Registered Dietitian. They also report meal comments received from the diners at their dining location on a regular basis.

These members actively participate in planning special events for the Nutrition Program.

The meetings for the Nutrition Council occur on the first Tuesday of the month at various dining rooms throughout the year.

Meals

All menus are planned with a Registered Dietitian and meet 1/3 of the required RDI for a senior’s dietary needs for the day.

Each meal will include:

• Soup, or salad and/ or juice
• Entrée
• Starch
• Vegetable
• Dessert
• Coffee or Tea, and Milk

Diners have a meal choice from two entrees offered. Diabetic Desserts are available in lieu of a baked good or sweet dessert, when requested by the diner at the time of his/her meal reservation.

Each diner is provided with a monthly menu which includes a nutrition newsletter on the back.  Also distributed monthly is an additional nutrition handout.

We also serve a kosher menu, which meets 1/3 of the dietary RDI intake for a senior.

For more information about this program or related volunteer opportunities, please call 351-6700 and ask for the “Congregate Department ” or e-mail pasprinio@rimeals.org.