In January 2022, Butler County’s MidPointe Library System – in partnership with Council on Aging (COA) – served its first congregate meal to older adults at its West Chester location.
Planning for the meal began when the West Chester Activity Center closed in 2019 and a group of concerned older adults reached out to Council on Aging to learn about programming opportunities for older adults in the township.
Some creative thinking led to the start of the congregate meal program within the library system.
In 2023, COA and MidPointe began offering congregate meals at the Trenton and Monroe branch locations in addition to the West Chester location.
The meals are provided as part of COA’s congregate meal program and are funded by the Older Americans Act. As the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for southwestern Ohio, including Butler County, COA plans and oversees community services funded by the Older Americans Act, including congregate meals. In this capacity, COA contracts with qualified service providers to prepare and deliver meals to sites across COA’s service area. Congregate meals provide safe and nutritious meals in a group setting that sustain and improve participants’ health and reduce isolation by promoting socialization. In 2023, COA provided nearly 103,000 meals in five counties, including meals served at six locations in Butler County.
The congregate meals offered through MidPointe are provided free of charge to adults age 60 and older, though donations are accepted. The meals vary from week to week but are designed to meet the nutritional needs of older adults. Past meals have included cob salads, meal loaf, boxed lunches, spaghetti, lasagna and more.
No matter which library location an older adult chooses to visit for a meal, they can expect to find welcoming staff and new friends.
Meals are offered at the following MidPointe Library locations:
- Fridays @ MidPointe Library West Chester, 10 am-1:45 pm
- Wednesdays @ MidPointe Library Trenton, 11 am-1 pm
- Thursdays @ MidPointe Library Monroe , 11 am-1 pm
To ensure there is enough food for everyone, registration for the meal is required. Register by calling (513) 424-1251 or registering online at https://programs.midpointelibrary.org/events.