SM@RT Program Featured at Ethans, Arrowhead Next Week

CLEARFIELD – SM@ART Dining (Sharing Meals at Area Restaurants Together) is a new program offered by the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (CCAAA) in partnership with local restaurants.  It was first offered at the Arrowhead Restaurant, and recently launched at Ethan’s Café in downtown Clearfield.  In order to call attention to the new service and give eligible residents a way to experience SM@ART Dining first hand, the Agency will treat diners age 60 and over to the SM@ART Meal of their choice at each of the participating restaurants this month.  There will be no cost to customers who attend. 

All residents of Clearfield County are invited to “Have One on Us” on Jan. 24, at 4:00 p.m. at the Arrowhead Restaurant, and on Jan. 25, at 4:00 p.m. at Ethan’s Café.  Reservations are required in both instances as seating is limited.  Verification of age and residency must be presented. 

At these two special gatherings, participants can select any meal combo from the SM@ART Menu.  While orders are being prepared, staff from the Area Agency on Aging will describe how the service works and enroll people who are interested in using it in the future.

SM@ART Dining is not a discount program.  It is actually an extension of the traditional CCAAA nutrition program (offered at senior centers).  However, in this case, the service is provided at the restaurant using their menu, which has been modified slightly so that it fits nutrition program meal patterns.  

At senior centers, participants are limited to one seating at noon on weekdays where everyone gets the same meal.  For a lot of reasons, that just doesn’t work for many people.  SM@ART Dining will give participants the freedom to choose what restaurant they want to go to and what meal they want to eat on a day and time that suits their schedule.  This flexibility will give many more people over 60 in Clearfield County a way to participate in CCAAA nutrition programs. 

SM@ART Dining is available to any Clearfield County resident who is 60 years of age or older, or who is married to someone over 60.  People interested in attending a “Have One on Us” information session must make reservations by calling the Agency at 765-2696 by January 20, 2011. 

For more information on the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Inc., visit www.ccaaa.net.  Programs and services of the Agency are funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Inc., Mature Resources Foundation, local and consumer contributions.