The Gilpin County Senior Program is funded by Gilpin County and Volunteers of America through the Denver Regional Council of Governments. Before the pandemic, the program served three lunches every week with approximately 30-35 seniors in attendance.

Today, the Gilpin County Senior Program continues to try to build the program back up to what it was before the pandemic. Currently, they are serving two lunches a week, Wednesday and Friday.

The program was developed to help seniors with living basics and necessities. Part of the Gilpin County Senior Program is to take people in groups on a weekly grocery shopping trip to Walmart or King Soopers.

Services also include rides to medical appointments in the Denver metro area, as well to clinics in the mountain region. This transportation is door-to-door, and the program asks for a $2.50 contribution for each one-way trip.

The Meals on Wheels service delivers food to homebound individuals. All services are available thanks to the volunteers and the three staff members, including Mary Ellen Makosky, who has been with the program for 26 years.

Makosky shares, “My favorite part is helping Gilpin seniors stay in their homes and community. I would love to see the program grow back to pre-COVID numbers with luncheons and transportation. I would like to see the luncheons go back to three days a week.”

The Gilpin County Senior Program team, Candace Johnson, Sean Boutot, and Mary Ellen Makosky are passionate about serving Gilpin seniors. “We have several volunteers that are also passionate about helping seniors,” says Makosky.

With so many people struggling, including senior citizens, programs like the Gilpin County Senior Program are more important than ever.

Gilpin County Senior Program office is located at 15193 Highway 119. They can be reached by phone at 303-515-4292. To learn more or make a donation visit Gilpincounty.org. Find them on social media at https://www.facebook.com/groups/707654251023058.