Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
December 5, 2001
`Adopt-a-senior' meal program gets rave reviews
Cathedral Plaza cafeteria tickets help residents save on meals
By Alwen Bledsoe
Cathedral Plaza's "adopt-a-senior" program collects donations to buy meal tickets for the senior and handicapped residents of the affordable housing unit — and it couldn't have a more appreciative audience.
Sipping coffee, eating bacon and eggs, and chatting cheerfully, several senior residents at Cathedral Plaza lingered over a Wednesday morning brunch at Cathedral Plaza's cafeteria while talking with the Register about the adopt-a-senior program.
"It's great, great," said Dee Benedik, a resident of four years. "It really saves on meals."
"Wonderful," agreed Betty Wasserburger, a resident of three years.
Last year Cathedral Plaza was able to donate at least one meal ticket to each of its residents, said Connie Bailey, on-site administrator at Cathedral Plaza.
"We started last year around the holiday time so that in lieu of some of the gifts that were coming in we were asking that donations be made for the seniors in the building so that we could buy them meal tickets," Bailey said. "That way we know they're getting a good meal, and the money they save they can use towards prescriptions, phone bills and other things that come up that they hadn't planned on."
Before beginning the program last year, Bailey conducted a customer survey of sorts to find out why more people weren't using the cafeteria.
"Regularly being able to afford to eat in the cafeteria was something that kept people away, and if they could go to McDonald's and get a hamburger for 99 cents, they were doing that," Bailey said. "This affords them an opportunity to have a full meal that's hot and well-balanced."
Bailey said that though each of the apartments at Cathedral Plaza has a fully equipped kitchen, many of the residents no longer cook for themselves or can't because of disabilities.
Others, like Imogene James, come to the cafeteria for more than a balanced meal. Mealtimes here also mean community.
"I'm only one person and I don't want to eat alone," she said.
The others seemed also to appreciate the company, interjecting puns and good-natured jabs into their conversation.
Wasserburger said she volunteers with the Visiting Nursing Association (VNA), attends daily Mass at the building and makes rosaries. She ventures down to the cafeteria about once a week when she's too busy to cook, she said.
"It's convenient," she said.
Dick DeDera also volunteers at the VNA and frequents the cafeteria about three times a week.
"Sometimes I fix my own meals depending on what they're serving here — I'm not a lover of liver and onions," he said.
Adding to the table's upbeat conversation, he turned to his friend Dick Cupp, and said with a mischievous look, "He has a `colorful' past."
Cupp good-naturedly explained that he is a retired florist. To queries about what he does now, he responded, "Nothing. I spend my time now on dialysis three times a week."
Despite the unsavory subject, he still jokes about the "hard time" he gives Benedik, a floor mate.
The subject returned to the cafeteria and the meal tickets, and noticeably missing were the "bad food" grumbles one tends to find in cafeterias. The low prices get rave reviews as well.
"The cafeteria's really great," said James. "I like the food. It's very tasty. I think the food is every bit as good as I would cook."
Ethel Davidson, a resident of four years marveled, "I had hashbrowns, two eggs and bacon and it only cost me $2.65 or something with coffee."
Cupp agreed, saying, "I eat most of my meals here because it's cheaper for me and I'm allergic to a lot of things, so I can get what I want here."
All said they received a meal ticket last year, and grateful murmurs accompanied the memory.
"We enjoy it every time we get those," said DeDera. "They are a big help when finances are limited to once a month. The meal tickets help out where you can go out to the store and buy fruit or something that you wouldn't normally get if you had to buy a meal ticket."
Cathedral Plaza receives the majority of their donations for the meal tickets during the holiday season, but especially appreciates donations other times of the year, Bailey said.
"We have some absolutely incredible people who have continued to donate through the year, which helps us because people need to eat 12 months a year, not just one month a year," she said with a laugh.
Bailey said the administrative office received numerous thank you notes after distributing the tickets last year.
One especially effusive thank-you reads: "I am surprise to get Free Buffet Ticket. I am happy. I have no foods here. I want to thank you so much for the Buffet Ticket. I love you."
Meal tickets are $36.75 for seven meals and $73.50 for 14. To donate or for more information, call Connie Bailey at 303-837-1424.
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