Senior Center temporarily stopping congregate meals, continuing necessary services

As many readers are aware, the COVID-19 virus is continuing to spread around the globe. A relative handful of cases have been confirmed in Alaska, but many people and organizations around the state are taking proactive steps to lessen their risk of contracting or spreading the virus. According to the CDC, the elderly are among high-risk groups of people when it comes to COVID-19. For this reason, the Wrangell Senior Center has temporarily closed its doors.

"We're not doing what they call congregate meals," said Tom Jenkins, senior center manager.

For the time being, the senior center will not be offering its usual sit-down meals to help protect Wrangell's senior community. However, Jenkins said that they will continue to provide necessary services for elderly. This includes delivering meals and medicine, he said, as well as offering rides in the senior center's van. Jenkins clarified that the rides could only be for necessary situations, such as a trip to the doctor's office. He also added that they would be doing their best to mitigate any risk of illness during all of this, too.

"We're cleaning the van carefully, and cleaning everything here carefully," he said.

The Wrangell Senior Center is located on the corner of Reid and Grief Street. In a recent "shelter in place" order issued by the borough, local officials have asked healthy members of the public to do their part to limit any spread of COVID-19, and to help one another get by. This includes offering to purchase groceries or run errands for elderly and other high-risk members of the community.

Call 874-2066 by 10 a.m. to have a meal delivered or to request a ride.