Frank and Gaetane met 20 years ago at the 50+ Club in Biddeford, right across from Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Biddeford Community Café. Frank likes to point out that they have been attending the Community Café since its very beginning, the same amount of time they have been married.
“We met at the 50+ Club. I was the president,” Frank shares. “One day, I met Gaetane on a Mystery Trip, and we’ve been together ever since, attending the Café ever since, too.”
Community Cafés are a welcoming place where older adults can enjoy a nutritious meal, connect with others, and access supportive services that help them stay healthy and engaged in their community.
For Gaetane, attending Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Community Café in Biddeford has become a cherished part of their routine. “We go to the Biddeford Café together monthly. We love going there,” she says. “We go to socialize, eat good food, and make new friends. We also use Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Meals on Wheels program, and it has been very helpful.”
The Meals on Wheels meals have been especially important for Frank, his daughter Paula shares. “Frank is on a low-sodium, low-fat diet, and it’s working out so well for him. We’re very grateful Meals on Wheels has special diet options.”
While Paula lives in another state, she sees the impact from afar. “When I call and ask my dad what he’s having for dinner, he says a ‘MOW,’” she laughs. “We all know what a MOW is.”
For Paula, knowing Frank and Gaetane are supported brings her peace of mind. “When I can’t visit, it’s comforting to know they’re getting well-balanced meals that meet my dad’s health needs, especially with the cost of groceries right now,” she says. “Having meals delivered also gives Gaetane one less thing to worry about, which helps them maintain their home and continue living together independently.”
Meals on Wheels has become a steady presence in their lives, providing most of their meals. At the Community Café, Paula has also seen the kindness firsthand. “My dad sometimes comes in with a walker or a wheelchair, and a volunteer will bring his food right to the table. They’re so accommodating,” she says. “I’m incredibly appreciative of everything they do for Frank and Gaetane.”
Together, Frank and Gaetane continue to share meals, friendships, and the simple comfort of being cared for, side by side, just as they have for the past 20 years. With the support of Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Meals on Wheels and the Community Café, they are able to remain healthy, connected, and independent in the community they love – and to keep building their life together, one shared meal at a time.
