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LSS dining moves to Generations Events

Lead Summary
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By
Mavis Fodness

Staff and volunteers with Lutheran Social Services (LSS) prepared and served their first noon meal in their new location at the Generations Events Center Monday.
Shortly after Friday’s meal service finished, Generations staff and volunteers packed up the kitchen items from the former Senior Dining building on Lincoln Street.
On Monday, cook Jeanne Vande Hoef and the LSS crew prepared the more than 150 meals as if the move didn’t happen.
The kitchen’s normal choreographed movements, however, were not quite as smooth, as they learned the new facility layout.
“It’s going to be a learning curve,” Vande Hoef said. “Everything is an adjustment.”
On-site meals were served to 30 people Monday. The average is about 15-20 diners, according to site coordinator Lynette Hoiland.
“For a half-price day, this was a good showing,” she said.
Generations President George Bonnema also spoke to diners Monday.
“We’ve been blessed,” he said.
Bonnema and a dedicated group of volunteers have spent years researching and fundraising before purchasing the former Grand Prairie Events building. The group had planned to build a new facility.
After the purchase, they spent months upgrading the kitchen for the LSS meal site move.
“Everything is gas here,” said Vande Hoef. “It was electric before.”
Snafus — such as phone calls ringing to the old location — were minimal from the day’s move.
As the phones made the transition to the new building, Bonnema and the Generations board are now pivoting toward what other activities can be done in the new larger facility.
The group is open to suggestions, he said.
The LSS meal site joins A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota, which moved into the building April 1.
LSS meals are open to anyone, with price discounts given to those ages 60 and older. Reservations are encouraged two days in advance for meal planning purposes.
Call 507-283-9846 for on-site, pickup or delivered meals. Menus are published weekly in the Star Herald and on the Generations social media page.

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