MOW eager to serve from its new home

By CHERIL VERNON
The Palestine Herald

June 18, 2009 09:45 pm

— While renovations continue on the new Palestine Senior Center on Church Street, Meals on Wheels Executive Director Lois Durant is looking forward to moving from the old senior center on Kickapoo Street to the new facility at the end of July possibly.
“After 25 years of serving the Anderson, Cherokee and Rusk county residents, we are anxious to begin a new chapter in the Meals on Wheels organizational history,” Durant said. “We hope that they will be finished by mid-July so we can get all moved in before the end of July.”
The Meals on Wheels program received a big boost this week when the Rotary Club of Palestine donated $10,000 to the project. The Rotary Club donation will be used specifically for a first-class sound system in the auditorium. 
 “We were looking for a worthy project and supporting the Meals on Wheels program and Senior Activity Center will enhance our community services,” Rotary President Brenda Beazley said.
The Rotary Club of Palestine has been an important part of community support since 1913 with “Service Above Self” as its motto. Recent projects have included installation of downtown benches, a fluorescent bulb disposal and a turn of the century clock on Spring Street.
“Rotarians look to assist those in need and we are proud to help the elderly with this support,” Beazley said.
Meals on Wheels bought the building at 200 N. Church St. in November of 2007. The whole front of the building has been refaced for a totally new look. Bathrooms have been completely redone. A large commercial kitchen capable of producing more than 1,200 meals has been built with a built-in, walk-in refrigerator and freezer, each with a 132 square-foot capacity. 
“We are presently doing 900 meals per day and growing. We serve Anderson, Cherokee and Rusk counties,” Durant said.
The building has a 4200 sq. ft. auditorium with a large platform. There is a special place being built just for the volunteers to load meals. Next to the kitchen in the back is a new area for dining, and a kitchenette that can be rented to the public for special functions being held in the auditorium.
Construction was started in January by Boone and Boone of Tyler. The architect is Jim Clark of Tyler. The project is being financed by a loan from Southside Bank.  
“Right at this time, the parking lot is being started, and the sprinkler system is being installed. Still to be installed are the walk-in units and the grease trap system,” Durant said. “Some of the earlier work such as demolition and painting was done by inmate labor from the Gurney Unit.”
Quality Restaurant Supply of Lufkin will be moving all of the kitchen equipment. The senior center will have a moving company move all of the rest, except for computers which they will move themselves. Electrical work is being done by Henderson Electric and air conditioning work is being done by Ranger Air, both of Palestine. East Texas Fire Extinguisher is doing the fire suppression system, Durant said.
The building itself is 17,000 sq. ft. Included will be an exercise room, a board room which will be available to the public for small meetings; a game room for dominoes and bridge; an art room and computer room; a hospitality room which can be used for small functions as well as bridge groups; five offices; a workroom; and a small office that the Red Cross plans to use. 
The auditorium will be used for center dances, as well as by the Dogwood Square Dance Club. The auditorium also will be used for many fund-raising special events, and for rent to the public.
“We have 45 round tables and 400 padded, upholstered folding chairs which were bought with a grant from the Meals on Wheels Association Foundation,” Durant said. “The same grant paid for the renovations of the auditorium, and table linens, as well as a new podium. We plan on purchasing more chairs, game tables and rectangular tables.”
Parking spaces are being added on the south side and in the back of the building.  
“We have 2.5 acres in the back of the building with a creek running through it. It is my dream to someday have all that area cleaned up, especially along the creek — to have a walking trail with benches so people could go out and enjoy nature right in downtown,” Durant said. “It could be set up with native plants and bird feeders.”
Anyone interested in contributing to the Meals on Wheels program may contact Lois Durant at 903-729-6344. The center could use help with equipment purchases, Durant said.
“They can call me if they would like to donate any specific items,” Durant said.
Some things have already been donated to the center, such as a three-piece leather seating set by Mary ALice Largent for a sitting area in the foyer and one piece of exercise equipment.  
Many other things will be needed by the center such as a large flat screen TV to mount on the wall in the dining room, as well as money to help with the renovation costs. 

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