Brinnon senior nutrition program saved
By Jeff Chew, Peninsula Daily News
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"They're off of red alert," Tim Hockett said Monday.
"We're still trying to keep attendance up and deliver meals."
The nutrition program, which began the summer with the threat of ending in July, now is averaging 15 to 17 people a day, he said.
The program's goal is to have at least 20 people a day.
In June, Brinnon's nutrition program was serving an average of only 12 people daily, and had served as few as six a day.
The program had the lowest attendance of any on the North Olympic Peninsula, Hockett said then.
Recent attendance has been bolstered by a popular "Third Thursday" dinner, a monthly community gathering at the Brinnon Community Center on the first floor of the Bayshore Motel, he said.
The motel, on U.S. Highway 101 in Brinnon, is owned by Jefferson County and operated by OlyCAP.
Faced being cut
Hockett announced in June that the program would end in July because of a lack of funding and support.
He blamed the soaring price of food, and of the fuel needed to deliver meals.
In 2007, about 1,800 meals were served at the Brinnon Community Center, compared with more than 4,000 in 1997.
Community leaders, who originally were critical of Hockett's decision because they said they did not get a chance to share their ideas beforehand, rallied to save the program.
Hockett said OlyCAP is forming a Brinnon advisory group on the senior nutrition program.
It needs two more members.
"We're working with the community to communicate better," he said.
OlyCAP is a private nonprofit program that serves seniors, children and the needy across the Peninsula.
Suggested goals
The advisory group, chaired by Stan Walter, suggested these goals for the nutrition program:
The advisory group also has suggested that it manage the Bayshore Motel.
Hockett said OlyCAP was proud of its management of the motel but that it would welcome new and better ideas.
"There's an ongoing difference of opinion about management of the motel," Hockett said, adding that turning it into a resort, as proposed, faced great financial obstacles.
"OlyCAP does not have the investment capacity to upgrade that motel to make it a resort," he said.
"If some other folks can do it better, cheaper and faster, we welcome that," he said.
County and Port of Port Townsend leaders who have been approached about investing in the motel have been cool to the idea.
The motel has one full-time manager and hires seasonal part-time help but poses a "seasonal risk" with extremely slow business during the winter months on Hood Canal, they have said.
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Port Townsend/Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: September 29. 2008 9:00PM