The Goodwin Senior Dining program in Wellman is a popular lunch program for people throughout the community, and not just among Wellman residents.

At a Sept. 3 meeting, Kalona City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh told the City Council that a number of Kalona residents utilize the program.

“Wellman does a terrific job with senior dining,” Schlabaugh said. “Probably 1,000 Kalona residents go over there yearly to take advantage of it, which is good.”

Schlabaugh said that he has been looking at the program’s numbers with Wellman City Administrator Kelly Litwiller and found that a number of Kalona residents utilize the program.

As a result, Schlabaugh suggested that the city of Kalona help subsidize the program.

“We’d like to explore, does the city need to participate in that in some form or fashion,” he said. “Kelly and I will continue to look through the numbers.

“The city of Wellman contributes about $13,000 a year to subsidize that program, along with the senior dining council.”

He added that no specific figure for a subsidy from Kalona has been tallied.

“What that number is, I couldn’t begin to tell you right now, but it is a good benefit,” Schlabaugh said. “We’ll come back with some recommendations and run them through the finance committee and go from there.”

Goodwin Senior Dining Site Manager Anita Kanagy estimated that the program serves, on average, about 35 meals a day, in both dine-in, take-out and deliveries.

“It’s not just for seniors either,” Kanagy said. “Anyone can come and eat.”

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