Lack of Participants Leads to End of Veblen’s Senior Meals

VEBLEN, S.D. (AP) — A congregate dining facility for senior citizens in northeast South Dakota is closing because of lack of participation.

The Aberdeen American News reports the Senior Meals program in Veblen will stop serving meals June 12th as participation has dropped to 10 people per day.

Rick Pesek with the Senior Nutrition Program says not enough meals are being served to justify the operation of a kitchen where meals are cooked daily. He says he can't say for certain why participation has declined.

Pesek adds that Veblen isn't the only community experiencing a drop in participants. Programs in Mobridge, Redfield, Webster, Sisseton and Groton used to serve 40 people a day. Now, they're only assisting 15.

Veblen seniors will be able to get meals in Clair City, which is 7 miles away.

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