Pierceton Nutrition Site Gets Bequest From Loretta Walls
Posted
Staff Report-
PIERCETON – A bequest from Loretta Walls brought new life to the Pierceton Nutrition Site.
Walls, who was born and raised in East Warsaw, was active in the Pierceton community throughout her life. The Pierceton Nutrition Site was a favorite local gathering spot of her late mother-in-law, Joann Walls. It had been providing meals to area seniors since the early 1980s.
But the site was shuttered June 30 after budget cuts in the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, which funded 35 nutrition sites in Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaPorte, Marshall and St. Joseph Counties.
“In early 2018, we learned that our budgets were being drastically reduced and were put in the unfortunate position of having to close some of our smaller sites,” said George Hawthorne, director of nutrition and transportation at REAL Services, in a news release.
Soon after the site closed, however, REAL Services received word of a bequest from Loretta Walls, who died in October 2016. Her gift of $150,000 meant that the Pierceton Nutrition Site could open again.
"My Aunt Loretta would be delighted that her gift has allowed the site to reopen,” said Toni Copenhaver, Walls’ niece, in the release. “Just knowing that the seniors in the Pierceton area can enjoy a hot meal and companionship would mean the world to her.”
The seniors who rely on the site for meals – and who engage in card games such as manipulation and euchre – are grateful that the site is open again. "You might come in as a stranger the first time, but that won’t last long as you’ll meet many new friends,” said Carolyn Harrell, who has been coming to the site for 20 years and picks up her friend Jo Wells on her way to the site each day.
REAL Services in 1973 launched nutrition programs designed to provide low-cost nutritious meals as well as recreational activities to seniors. The Pierceton Nutrition Site opened in 1983 at 205 N. First St.
The mission of these sites is to promote better health among people age 60 and older through good nutrition and a sense of community.
“Loretta Walls left a legacy to the entire Pierceton community," said Becky Zaseck, president/CEO of REAL Services. “Her generous gift will provide nutritious meals and companionship to elderly for years to come.”
“My aunt was so well-loved,” said Copenhaver. “It is wonderful that she can be remembered this way, and to give back to the community she truly loved for years to come.”
