Home

Steamboat Springs — There's no such thing as a free lunch, but if you're a senior citizen in Hayden, there's certainly such a thing as a cheap one. The Routt County Council on Aging offers lunch three days a week at the American Legion in Hayden for a suggested donation of $2.50 for those older than 60. For those younger, the suggested donation is $5.

Despite the good deal, the council is concerned with the lack of seniors taking advantage of the meals, board member Sharon Nereson said. Only seven people were in attendance Tuesday for a meal that included roast beef, mashed potatoes and peaches.

"Our attendance is very poor," said Shelley Orrell, director of the Routt County Council on Aging. "We used to have three times as many people."

Mary Wixson, a council board member who attended the lunch Tuesday, said she hopes more will start to turn out for the lunches so that they can continue.

"It's a lot of fun to come here," Wixson said. "We don't want to lose it."

Wixson said the lunches could accommodate as many as 30 to 40 people. Evelyn Powell comes as much for the social aspect as for the food.

"It's good just to talk," Powell said. "We talk about old times and things going on today."

Joy Bachem, who delivers the meals to Hayden from Steamboat Springs, stressed that the meals aren't only for seniors.

"You don't have to be old and you don't have to be broke," Bachem said. "It's a great place to come and just socialize."

Lunches are served at noon on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information on the lunches, which are also offered in Steamboat Springs and Oak Creek, call Orrell at 879-0633.