May 11, 2021 The Council on Aging of West Florida will soon reopen senior dining sites will reopen next week for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The Council on Aging congregate meal program sites will reopen May 17 to elders 60 and over on Monday, May 17. The sites closed March 16, 2020. due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, meals have been available at these sites via a Monday through Friday grab-and-go platform, but now the locations will reopen to 100 percent occupancy so older adults can resume daytime activities. For those who can and enjoy getting out for lunch, the Senior Dining Program is a neighborhood-based program which offers older citizens the opportunity to share their lunch with others their age. Hot nutritious balanced meals are served to active senior adults at several locations throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Meals are prepared fresh daily and contain one-third of the required daily allowance (RDA) for adults and comply with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs Guidelines. In addition, participants have an opportunity to join in arts and crafts projects, play games and socialize. Serving times and location hours vary by site.