Seniors United for Nutrition (S.U.N.) Program, Inc.

The mission of the Seniors United for Nutrition Program, Inc. (SUN) is to support and assist seniors 60 and over by providing hot nutritious meals, home delivered or in a group setting, to promote fellowship, reduce isolation, and to provide prevention programming to assist in maintaining independence and involvement in their community. We serve senior adults 60 and over in both Iowa and Lafayette counties. SUN will make every effort to serve rural home delivery participants, depending on availability of a driver and funds. Statistics have proven the nutrition program has been instrumental in assisting in keeping seniors in their own homes and independent longer, thereby saving dollars in health care costs and aiding in the comfort and happiness of older Americans. Volunteers are the heart of our program. All program operations depend upon the support and hours given by local volunteers assisting at all the meal sites. If you are interested in volunteer opportunities contact the SUN main office at 608-930-9845. Seniors United for Nutrition Program, Inc. is a private non-profit organization financially supported in part by:

  • Federal Older American’s Act
  • State Funds
  • County Levy
  • FEMA funding
  • NSIP funding
  • Local Municipalities
  • Local Community grants
  • Individual site Donations
  • Meal Donations

We gratefully accept and acknowledge individual contributions financially and through volunteering. Please consider making a donation to the SUN program. To donate, please contact the main office at 608-930-9845. Check your local newspaper for weekly postings of meal site menus.

Welcome the New SUN Executive Director!

I am Andrew Hodgson and I started November 27 as the new Executive Director of Seniors United for Nutrition, also known as the SUN Program.  I am excited and honored to be taking on this next challenge with a vital community agency.  I completed a B.S. in Human Nutrition with Arizona State University and am scheduled to finish an M.S. in Applied Economics with University of Missouri in May of 2024.  I have worked and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, The Giving Grove, and some other non-profits.  My most recent similar job was managing food service and nutrition education with an agency that operated Head Start preschools in Kansas.  I led many similar functions that SUN does daily, such as multi-site food service, government compliance, grant writing and fundraising.

Wisconsin is my fifth state, after growing up in Illinois, going to college in Arizona, and then living in Utah and Kansas.  I moved to Wisconsin in August of this year.  In Kansas, I kept chickens for a few years, started a small fruit orchard and hobby gardened.  I also helped to restore a small patch of native prairie.  My hobbies include hiking and rock climbing, mountain and road biking, cooking food from scratch, reading and writing.  My favorite animals are hippos, mountain goats, and cats.  I am tolerated by two cats named Giuseppe and Sebastian.  I currently commute from Cross Plains.

On behalf of the SUN Program, the Board of Directors, and all the many seniors and community members served by and involved with this mission-driven organization over the previous 16 years, I would like to thank Cecile McManus for her service as the previous Executive Director.  Cecile saw the SUN Program through many challenges, including the recent challenges of the pandemic.  I also want to thank everyone who has contributed to the SUN Program Annual Campaign already, or those who still plan to contribute when they can in 2024, whatever amount you can spare.  I am immediately impressed with the generosity of the people in these communities we serve, and by how much support this program receives.  I want to promise everyone that I will do my best every day to help Seniors United for Nutrition thrive and succeed.

Seniors United for Nutrition will be growing and changing from necessity in 2024.  We will seek creative new partnerships, find efficiencies, and practice continuous improvement in both areas of strengths and weaknesses.  Non-profits, like all businesses, must adapt and keep up with changing times and new challenges to remain relevant and viable.  I will not go into specifics yet, but our monthly Board of Directors meetings are open to the public.  Members of the communities of both Lafayette and Iowa Counties are always welcome to attend.  You can also follow us on our Facebook page which I will begin updating frequently, send us an email, give us a call or visit during office hours.  I look forward to meeting many of you in the coming year.

The SUN Shine Newsletter

Spring 2024 Volume 1, Issue 1

Current Menu (click to view)

 

 

 

Home Delivered Meals

Home Delivered meals are nutritious, mid-day meals delivered to your home via volunteers. These meals are available Monday through Friday to home bound seniors 60 and over; they are delivered from a local community site. Home delivery is available to all eligible participants within the city limits in each community we serve. SUN will make every effort to serve eligible rural home delivery participants, depending on availability of a driver and funds. This meal provides 1/3 of the daily recommended dietary requirements for seniors and is the main meal of the day. All meals have no added salt, and accommodations can be made for diabetics. Please make a reservation one day in advance. As of 4/1/23, the suggested contribution is $6.50. Determination of need is based on the following:

  • Individual is unable to leave his or her home under normal circumstances. Flexibility is allowed for medical appointments and occasional personal reasons important to the individual’s quality of life.
  • Person is unable to participate in the congregate meal program due to physical or emotional problems.
  • There is no spouse, domestic partner or other adult living in the same house or building that is both willing and able to prepare the meals.
  • The individual is unable, either physically or emotionally, to obtain food and prepare adequate meals.
  • Other criteria established by the nutrition program and approved by Area Agency on Aging.
  • A home visit is conducted to assess nutrition and determine other related supportive service’s needs. Referrals will be made as necessary. Reassessment of continued need for service shall be done in the home of the participant no less than once per year. Reassessments are necessary to establish continued program activity.

Congregate Nutrition Site

Mid-day meals are offered Monday through Friday to seniors 60 and over, at a local community site. This meal provides 1/3 of the daily recommended dietary requirements for seniors and is the main meal of the day. The nutrition program provides education and information along with the meal. All meals have no added salt, and accommodations can be made for diabetics. “Remember that the nutrition program is more than just a meal!” There are opportunities for cards, sharing of talents, entertainment and good times spent together! Please make a reservation one day in advance to attend the meal site located closest to you. Suggested contribution is $5.50.   Individuals eligible to receive meals on a contribution basis at a senior dining center are:

  • Age 60 or older
  • Any spouse or domestic partner who attends the senior dining site with their spouse or domestic partner who aged 60 or older
  • An adult with a disability, under age 60 who resides in housing facilities occupied primarily by older individuals at which congregate nutrition services are provided is eligible to receive meals at the facility in which they reside
  • A disabled adult who resides at home with an eligible older individual participating in the program *Meal reservations are required and must be made the day prior to the day you wish  to receive a meal.
Arena~ Arena Manor.  Call 608-341-6859 to make reservations for dining in or home delivery.


Avoca~ Home Delivery only. Call the SUN Office at 608-930-9845 or 608-623-2800 to make reservations or changes.


Dodgeville~ Hidden Valley Community Church. Call 608-574-6630 to make reservations for dining in or home delivery.  This location also offers home delivery to Barneveld and Ridgeway.


Highland~ Home delivery only. Call 608-930-9845 or 608-623-2800 to make reservations or changes.


Linden~ Linden Municipal Building. Call 608-623-2800 or the SUN office 608-930-9845 to make reservations for dining in or home delivery.


Mineral Point~ Home delivery only. Call 608-930-9845 or 608-623-2800 to make reservations or changes.

Lafayette County Sites

Argyle ~ Home Delivered Only, 608-776-4969


Belmont~ Community Building, 608-762-5114


Benton~ VFW Building, 608-759-6671


Blanchardville~The Viking Café, 608-523-4327


Darlington~ Municipal Building~ Senior Center, 608-776-4969


Shullsburg~ Townsend Community Center, 608-965-4424 Ext. 226


South Wayne~ Home Delivered Only, 608-776-4969

S.U.N. Board Members

Board Members Dan Nankee, Iowa County (Chairman) Bob Boyle, Lafayette County Rita Bucholz,  Lafayette County Kriss Marion, Lafayette County Justin O’Brien, Iowa County Doug Richter, Iowa County

Contact

8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday 303 W. Chapel St. Dodgeville, WI 53533 608-930-9845

Andrew Hodgson, Executive Director, Andrew.Hodgson@iowacounty.org