The Tarkio Nutrition Center has been extremely successful over the years in keeping people of all ages coming through its doors, whether to fill their bellies or for a bit of fun.
The center’s main goal and purpose is to reach as many seniors as it can, whether that be with a delicious meal or a game of pool or bingo.
The center provides hot, healthy meals Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for close to 50 senior clients. Friendly and caring volunteer staff also make sure that homebound senior citizens get their meals, rain or shine, cold or heat. Meals are delivered to an average of 50 people a day, plus weekend meals for around 10 (the center also delivers to Fairfax).
The center also hosts bingo every Thursday. Early bird bingo is held from 6:30-7:00 p.m. and regular bingo begins at 7:00 p.m. The jackpot is now at $550. A concession stand with delicious food is available for bingo participants.
The Tarkio Nutrition Center recently started a lending library. Anyone can come borrow a book or donate a book. The center is hoping to start a DVD lending library as well.
Something new to the center is the No Hunger Summer free food for kids program. The center hosts Tarkio kids ages 18 and under with free lunches Monday through Friday through July 28. This year’s program started Monday, June 5, and there has been an average of 50 plus kids every day. The center will start delivering lunches to Fairfax children on June 19. Second Harvest provides the food and the Tarkio Nutrition Center prepares it. Joan Stevens is in charge of this program and she is doing a great job.
The non-profit Tarkio Nutrition Center is always accepting donations and looking for volunteers. The center could not be run without the volunteers. The center is currently trying to raise funds to help with a sidewalk project. The center is looking to improve the frontage of the property by removing the existing 8 to 10 inch curbs and replace them with street level ramping. This project would greatly improve the accessibility to the center and safety for the seniors.
The Tarkio Nutrition Center is a wonderful part of downtown Tarkio and all are encouraged to stop by.