In hopes of providing a healthy meal to more senior citizens, a countywide meals program is scheduled to expand next month.

Senior Services of Island County is partnering with the Coupeville United Methodist Church, the town of Coupeville and the Coupeville Lions Club to offer a new program that will begin in early November.

The program, called “Lunch and More,” will offer one meal a week for the senior citizens.

“We looked for a way to provide more access to more seniors in the Coupeville community,” said Cheryn Weiser, executive director of Senior Services of Island County, which is a nonprofit organization not affiliated with Island County.

Senior Services currently offers a meal program at Cam-Bey senior apartments; however space is limited, especially if the complex’s residents decide to enjoy a meal and learn about important services for the island’s senior citizens. So officials decided to offer a second meal program in Coupeville.

“I call it a model attempt of a mobile senior services in Coupeville,” Mayor Nancy Conard said during a recent Town Council meeting.

The Coupeville Lions Club is providing volunteer and financial support for the program while the Methodist Church is providing space.

Senior Services of Island County will offer additional meal programs in six locations throughout Island County once the service is established at the Methodist Church. Other locations are the Whidbey Evangelical Free Church, Brookhaven, Cam-Bey, the Oak Harbor Senior Center and the Camano Community Center. Senior Services of Island County served almost 90,000 meals in 2010.

The organization plans to start off offering one hot meal a week served on Wednesdays. In addition, there will be a chance to educate folks about the services offered by Senior Services, which also includes Meals on Wheels, housing help and adult day services. Entertainment will also be offered during the meal times, but the details still have to be finalized.

To eat a meal at the Methodist Church, Weiser said a person should make a suggested donation of $3.50, which is less than half the $8.13 needed to prepare each meal.

If demand for the meals increases, then senior services will add additional days.

Island County Senior Services is not a county agency and is funded through the Northwest Regional Council, federal dollars and through its own fundraising efforts.

Volunteers are being sought to provide entertainment during the meals. To get involved, call Senior Services of Island County at 360-321-1600.