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Nutrition program report: state assessment enforces congregate meals rule; Parkston site remains closed
Summary
Staff said a state assessment found two delivery sites were not using congregate dining as required, prompting a directive that meals be eaten in community rooms; Parkston’s meal host closed and staff are seeking alternate hosts while overall meal counts fell.
Speaker 4 told the board that a state site assessment of the congregate nutrition program found two delivery sites (Meadowlawn and Greenridge) where meals were being taken back to residents' rooms rather than eaten in the congregate space. "The state came and did a site assessment on our nutrition program," Speaker 4 said, adding the program clarified that meals must be eaten in the community room and that staff returned the assessment with formal responses.
To comply with the state’s finding and reduce waste, staff switched from styrofoam to lidded meal trays and require diners to eat in the community room so dishes can be collected for reuse. Speaker 4 said some participants initially objected and some stopped participating, but staff expect some will return.
Parkston closure: Speaker 4 said the Parkston meal site closed when the host restaurant stopped operating. The program served fewer meals there — September volumes fell below the monthly goal and October showed zero meals — and roughly 200 meals previously served in Parkston are now being provided through trip deliveries to other locations. Staff have asked Parkston city officials for assistance and are exploring alternative hosts, such as the hospital or school.
Volunteer and fundraising: Speaker 5 reviewed volunteer activities and fundraising: the 'Snowflakes' annual donation drive brought in $8,872 last year and Speaker 5 set a new goal of $8,160 for the current campaign and planned to begin putting up decorations and solicitations the same day.
Why it matters: Congregate meal rules are tied to program funding and intended benefits beyond nutrition, including social interaction. The Parkston host closure reduced monthly meal counts and requires the program to identify new hosts to restore service.
What was not decided: The board did not approve new contract hosts or a subsidy; staff are performing outreach to local stakeholders and will update the board if a host is secured.
Next steps: Staff will continue outreach in Parkston, seek alternative host locations, and monitor participation after the congregate dining requirement is re-enforced.
