Great Falls Volunteers Launch Meal Program for Seniors

After months of worry about where their next meal would come from, seniors at Eagles Manor in Great Falls got news worth celebrating.

A new volunteer-led meal program will step in to feed up to 50 residents who relied on daily meals at the senior living facility. The program launches July 1st, the day after current meal services end due to a management change.

Julie Demarais, owner of A-La-Care Assisted Independence, organized the effort after learning dozens of residents faced losing their one or two daily meals. She partnered with Cassie Campbell, owner of the Vaughn-based food truck Spices N' Spurs, along with local businesses and civic leaders.

The solution is simple but effective. Spices N' Spurs will prepare fresh meals, freeze them, and volunteers will transport them to Eagles Manor three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Residents will pay the same prices they currently pay and can still choose menu options or note dietary restrictions and allergies. The program aims to keep everything familiar for seniors who were anxious about the transition.

"People are excited," Demarais said after a community meeting on May 13th. "They're happy that they don't have to worry about this. They've just had so much anxiety about what's going to happen on July 1st and where their food is going to come from."

The Ripple Effect

What started as a crisis is sparking something bigger. Organizers are already planning community dinners and social gatherings to help residents stay connected beyond just meal delivery.

The volunteer commitment is small but mighty. Demarais says helpers need just one hour per week to pick up and deliver meals to the facility.

The program currently serves residents who lived at Eagles Manor before the management change, though new requests may be considered case by case. Community members interested in volunteering or donating to cover packaging and delivery costs can contact Demarais at 406-590-4233.

Another resident meeting is scheduled for June to finalize details before the official launch. For now, 50 seniors can stop worrying and start looking forward to their next meal together.