Food, friends and fellowship.

It’s nourishment not only for the body, but overall well-being.

Unfortunately, with the challenges of aging, access to proper nourishment and social interaction can often become difficult.

Offering solutions, Wheatheart Nutrition Project provides nutritional meals four days a week, as well as other resources, to adults 60 years of age and older in an eight-county area, including Kingfisher County.

Under the direction of the Long Term Care Authority of Enid Area Agency on Aging, Wheatheart Nutrition Project is a nonprofit organization which serves meals developed by a registered dietician at local community sites as well as meal delivery to homebound residents.

In Kingfisher, a daily meal is served from 11:30 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday at 1605 S. Main St., site coordinator Ladonna Terrell said.

A 24-hour notice to receive a meal is requested to determine the daily amount of food needed, Terrell added.

Additionally, residents who meet program qualifications are eligible to have a meal delivered to their residence.

Those who come for a meal, Terrell said, also enjoy group conversation and fellowship.“ It’s as much about the socialization as the food,” she said.

Local residents Leon Pierce and John Riedlinger have been participating in the program for many years and agreed it’s good to have a meal with others and enjoy time together.Participation isn’t based on income, Riedlinger said, and added a millionaire or anyone could come and enjoy a meal with others.

“A donation is suggested,” previous outreach and current ADvantage program coordinator Tamara Stasyszen said, “but services and meals are never denied if an individual is unable to donate.”

Individuals not only receive a nutritional meal they might not otherwise have access to, but a friendly face and social interaction, Wheatheart outreach coordinator Terri Dains said.

Volunteers are also needed to deliver meals or help with set-up and clean-up Dains added.

In exchange for their service, each volunteer receives a free meal and mileage reimbursement for delivery, she said.

Funding is provided through state and federal funds under Title III of the Older Americans Act of 1964 as well as through private donations.

Other services Wheatheart Nutrition Project offers include informational programs and assistance to identify and access resources to enhance participants’ quality of life.

In addition, Dains said, if enough people are interested, other activities such as bingo, dominoes or other games are another option after the meal.

For more information about meals at the Kingfisher location, contact Terrell at 405-375-3472 and for meal delivery contact Dains at 580262-0303.

“Come on out, enjoy a meal and make new friends,” Dains said.