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The three Active Life Senior Centers in Troup County are gradually putting an end to its temporary to-go lunch option at all centers.

The to-go option, explained Dan Wooten, aging services manager of the LaGrange Active Life, was initiated during the initial state of the COVID-19 pandemic through Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging, which supplies the center with its funding.

The program allowed seniors to pick up meals at the center at a socially-distant level since the centers were closed. Troup County Active Life centers temporarily closed in March 2020 and reopened in August 2020 with several safety protocols in place. To-go meals for seniors became available in April 2020.

With COVID-cases easing, the centers are encouraging seniors to return to the center.

“Part of the program is the socialization and how valuable that is to be with others,” Wooten said.

LaGrange eliminated its to-go meal options in November. Both the Hogansville Active Life and West Point Active Life are still allowing the option for now.

Despite this cut, seniors who aren’t able to leave their homes still have options.

“The option [seniors] now have is that they can sign up for the home-delivered meals program,” Wooten said, adding the meals are free to participating seniors.

Similar to the Meals on Wheels program, the home-delivered meals program is provided to eligible older adults or other eligible participants at the client’s place of residence. Frozen meals are available for weekends and holidays and shelf-stable meals are provided annually prior to the winter weather season.

Seniors can still access daily lunches at their respective Active Life Centers Monday through Friday.

Seniors interested in this option may contact the site coordinators of their respective Active Life Centers.