MONTROSE – When the former supplier of senior food services for several towns went out of business last year, Volunteers of America stepped in to fill the void.

This is the first time VOA of Montrose has gotten into the food service business, but they’re currently preparing and serving about 10,000 meals each week for in eight locations, including delivery to about 350 elderly people in their homes

Melissa Chapple, VOA’s food service director, said the new program, called the Senior CommUnity Meal Program, serves meals in Montrose, Delta, Norwood, Cedaredge, Olathe, Nucla, Paonia, and Hotchkiss.

Columbine Senior Services of Delta had provided the service, but the nonprofit went out of business last year, leaving the food Region 10, which sponsors the food service, without a provider.

Lee Bartlett, director of Region 10 Senior Services, said VOA won the bid for the food services, even though it’s the first time the agency has been in the food service business.

Bartlett said VOA has risen to the task and then some.

“We’re excited with the progress VOA has been able to attain,” he said. “They’re more efficient with sustainability and outreach and increasing the quality of the food.”

Bartlett said VOA is using more fresh fruits and vegetables and is working toward providing healthier meals.

Moreover, much of the staff of Columbine was hired by VOA, said cooks Lee Ann Kille as Courtney Bassett as they finished up a morning of cooking for seniors at the Montrose Pavilion last week.

“It’s been a small transition, going from a small mom and pop company to a large corporation,” she said.

Kille said former Columbine employees got a small raise when they changed employers, but health insurance through VOA is too expensive for her to afford.

Although the food service program is going well, drivers to take meals to shut-ins are desperately needed, Chapple said.

“Delta is our most hurting facility in drivers and volunteers,” she said. “We’re down to two drivers on a weekly basis and the ones we have are doing it every day and we have no substitutes.”

Chapple said she could use three or four more drivers for each site. Anyone who wants more information call 970/835-8028, the direct line to the senior meal program.

So why did VOA get into food service? It was a matter of need, Chapple said.

“This was the perfect opportunity to help out,” she said. “We’re all learning and this is a fresh slate, but working with senior is so important and we couldn’t let this program die.”