Posted on July 2, 2020 by Groton
Lamont Hill, our Coastal Café Chef, has worked here at Groton Senior Center since 1996. In 2013 he became our Food Service Supervisor. To say he misses the daily interactions with our patrons during COVID19 is an understatement. He especially appreciates and misses the “straight forwardness of our seniors”. We sat with Lamont between all his meal prepping, cooking and planning to hear more.
Planning meal options for a household is a task many of us know is difficult. So take a moment to think about planning weeks ahead. It is quite a feat! Now add in a 2020 national pandemic in which ordering food supplies becomes extremely tricky. As Lamont told us, “either the companies were out of stock or utilizing different brands of product we were used to” so it became an even bigger challenge for Lamont, Lynnsie and Steve to make all those delicious meals we are now enjoying as Take Out Meals.
Since March 17th our Coastal Café staff has been busy “making inexpensive nutritional meals and then adding desserts or breads where we can”. Let’s talk numbers for a minute. In all of 2019, the kitchen did a total of 3,019 takeout meals. Since COVID19, he and his crew have made 3,581 take out meals! This surpasses their total Take Out numbers for 2019 big time!
Take Out Meals have been greatly received during the “lockdown” of the center during COVID19. Orders are taken 9:00 to 10:30 am (see page 3). Our phones are a ringing like crazy at the front desk and the numbers show it- most days selling out before 10 am. Then the front desk ladies report to the kitchen how many meals are needed for pick up and delivery (within Groton). That leaves the amazing kitchen staff a small window to get an average of 60 meals ready for pick up to begin at 11:30 am. PHEW!
Lamont told us “a large perk of this has been the growth of the our customer base”. We have had many new faces participate in the Take Out Meals. Groton Senior Center plans to continue the Take Out Meals until further notice. Which means until our beloved patrons are allowed to dine in house again.
Well Done Lamont, Lynnsie and Steve! And THANK YOU!!
