The Zephyrhills Senior Center has upgraded its kitchen.
The Pasco County Elderly Nutrition Division reopened the Zephyrhills Senior Center on June 5, after a nine-month kitchen renovation.
The facility, at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, 5855 16th St., closed in September after black mold was discovered next to a kitchen cabinet.
A kitchen renovation project had been planned, but discovery of the mold expedited the process, according to Karen Blackburn, the center’s nutrition site attendant. “It had to be addressed right away,” she said.
The $33,000 in upgrades was completely funded by the church, which has a public-private partnership with Pasco County Elderly Nutrition, a division of Pasco County Community Services.
Improvements include several stainless-steel, commercial-grade appliances, including a dishwasher, fridge-freezer, oven range and hand-washing station.
Other notable features include newly installed cabinets and countertops, plus brick-style floors and fresh lighting.
From old kitchen to new, the transformation is “unbelievable,” Blackburn said.
“It’s like night and day,” said Blackburn, who’s worked at the senior center for about two years. “It was just like a little country kitchen that the church used that wasn’t designed to accommodate dozens of seniors.”
“It’s definitely 100 percent so much better,” said George Papadopolous, Pasco County Elderly Nutrition Division manager.
It’s also up to proper specifications.
“We have everything that’s required from the county, and it works out really well,” Blackburn said.
Senior center patrons are in awe of the new kitchen features.
Eighty-year old Tooty Quin is a fan of the enhancements.
She often assists Blackburn with serving and cleanup.
“It’s a lot better,” Quin said. “We’ve got more room; it’s more efficient.”
Fellow senior Gary Morgan agrees.
“They just did a super good job on it,” said Morgan, 71. “It seems like there’s more stainless than it was before. And, it’s just more convenient for the (workers).”
During the nine-month closure, seniors were redirected to the Dade City Senior Center for meals and activities.
Those are two of six facilities operated by Pasco County Elderly Nutrition Services. Others are located in Port Richey, New Port Richey, Land O’ Lakes and Shady Hills.
At each facility, hot, balanced meals are served five days a week, free to seniors age 60 and older.
About 1,000 seniors take part in countywide programs each day.
The congregate meals come pre-prepared by GA Foods, a food vendor based in St. Petersburg.
The specialized maker of “highly nutritious meals” works closely with Wendy Perry, the county’s licensed dietician.
The meals are low in sodium, fat, cholesterol and sugar, while satisfying a third of seniors’ Dietary Reference Intake/Adequate Intake as established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences.
Yet, efforts are made to ensure meals are varied and tasty.
“They’re always looking to make it more appealing and give them different flavors; a lot of the food has a nice flavor to it,” said Karen Ceccofiglio, Pasco County Elderly Nutrition Division program coordinator.
As opposed to cooking, the senior center kitchens instead are used for checking food temperatures, measuring portion sizes and post-meal cleanup.
The Zephyrhills Senior Center — like its counterparts — is about more than just eating, however.
Specifically, it offers a place for seniors to socialize and have a good time.
“It is so much more beneficial if they come together, have a meal, enjoy the activities, rather than being in the house for the whole day,” Papadopolous said.
Card games, bingo and puzzles are some of the regularly scheduled events at the Zephyrhills Senior Center.
Movies, live music and guest speakers are also presented each month.
“I come Monday through Friday; I enjoy it,” Morgan said. “It breaks the day up. It gives me something to look forward to every day.”
“I like the camaraderie,” Quin added. “We go over politics and news; there’s discussion groups and all kinds of things.”
The seniors even organize field trips, visiting regional museums and parks a few times a year.
Those opportunities, Papadopoulos said, “promote social, physical and emotional well-being, as well as encourage maximum independence and enhance quality of life.”
“It makes sense what we do, and it gives that dignity and respect to our seniors that they so dearly deserve,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pasco County Elderly Nutrition Services offers home-delivered meals.
They’re funded in part by the Older Americans Act (OAA) channeled through the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas.
Still, one out of six seniors are food-insecure in Pasco.
Moreover, there are currently more than 200 homebound senior citizens on the waiting list for one meal a day.
That may change, come Oct. 1.
According to Papadopolous, GA Foods is expected to begin producing meals on-site at the Land O’ Lakes Senior Center, to distribute to each of the other county facilities.
The contract — if finally approved by the Pasco County Commissioners — will result in a cost savings of over $100,000, and will decrease the home-delivered waiting list by more than 50 senior citizens.
Published July 12, 2017
