Gurye-gun, Gurye-eup Free Meal Support Senior Dining Hall Operating Normally

Free Meals Provided to Low-Income Elderly at Risk of Food Insecurity

From Once Weekly Substitute Meals to Three Times Weekly Lunch Service

[Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yuk Miseok] On the 17th, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that it will resume normal operation of the Gurye-eup free meal support senior cafeteria, which provided meals to low-income seniors aged 60 and over who are at risk of skipping meals due to difficult household circumstances or unavoidable reasons, after more than three years.

The Gurye-eup senior cafeteria has been operated since 2016 through the Lottery Fund Project, providing lunch three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) to 120 low-income seniors at risk of skipping meals every year, at the basement first floor cafeteria of the Comprehensive Social Welfare Center.

Due to sudden flood damage in 2020 and COVID-19, the service was inevitably reduced to once a week with substitute meals (meal replacements). However, as the flood restoration of the Comprehensive Social Welfare Center was completed and COVID-19 quarantine guidelines were eased, starting this month, lunch will be provided three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) again.

Gurye-gun expects the senior cafeteria to be operated more systematically and professionally by signing a consignment contract with the Gurye-gun Regional Self-Support Center and entrusting the operation from 2022, instead of direct management.

Yang Cheol-seung, head of the Gurye Regional Self-Support Center, the entrusted operator of the senior cafeteria, pledged, “The senior cafeteria is not only a place where the elderly solve their meals but also a meaningful meeting place to alleviate loneliness and communicate with neighbors, so we will do our best to serve.”

Lee Gwang-dong, acting mayor of Gurye-gun, stated, “We will promote more diverse policies to ensure a happy life for vulnerable elderly people and do our best for the welfare of Gurye residents.”

Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yuk Miseok kun5783@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.