Angie meal site reopens after 7-year hiatus

The Council on Aging meal site in Angie was closed, after a long run, in 2001 due to lack of participation.

Five years and certainly a few retirements later, a group of 60 residents petitioned for it to be re-opened. But at that time, funding was scarce.

Now, thanks to a parish earmark and some assistance from the state, hot mid-day meals and more are again being served in the little green building behind the Angie Town Hall.

The site was actually re-opened in July. But the Grand Re-opening celebration took place Thursday. And the big room was bustling with happy people from throughout the community.

Charlene Holmes is the site manager.

“Oh you just don’t know what this means,” she exclaimed. “It means so much. I have clients who come here who were like wilted flowers that have opened up again with the meal site.”

On Thursday, the nine big round tables were quickly filled with people sipping coffee and talking animatedly. The meal site also functions as a community meeting place, an exercise spot and a craft room.

It provides nourishment for both body and soul, said Ethylene Hartzog, 89.

“Oh, I love it,” she said. “It’s just the best thing that could happen around here. And it isn’t just the meals. It gives people something to do instead of sitting at home all day long.

“The food is good, but I’m not coming just for the food. There are a lot of good benefits of this.”

Nancy McBeth, Washington Parish Council on Aging (WPCOA) director, said the Angie site is already serving meals to 30 to 40 people a day. She believes the lull in 2001 might have been due to the fact that people who are now retired were still working.

McBeth said she is pleased to currently have the funding to offer what are again needed services.

“Angie is so far off the beaten path,” she said. “Many people who live here could not travel to the site in Bogalusa.”

The WPCOA serves a total of about 210 meals a day at sites in Angie, Bogalusa, Franklinton and Pine, said McBeth. It also serves about 220 people a day with home-delivered meals, she said.