VIDALIA — For seniors in need of lunch, a ride or just a place to talk to other people, the Concordia Council on Aging is ready to offer support.

The non-profit seeks to enable seniors 60 and older to retain their independence, Executive Director Dorothy McDonald said.

“We provide services in order for people to remain in their own homes as long as possible,” McDonald said. “The only qualification is the person has to be at least 60 years old. We do not charge for our services.”

The council has two locations, one at 411 Texas St. in Vidalia and the other at 111 Texas Ave. in Ferriday. The centers offer two meals a day, recreation and educational programs.

Thanks to Roy King of Natchez, McDonald said the center now also has computers at both centers for the seniors to use.

“They can get on the Internet and do whatever they need to do,” she said. “Primarily, it is if they want to sign up for benefits — you have to do that online now.”

The recreation offerings include arts and crafts, bingo, exercise, board games, dominos and checkers.

Monday through Friday, the council delivers hot meals to seniors in Vidalia and Ferriday unable to make it to the center. In the outlying areas — including Monterey, Wildsville, Clayton and Lake St. John — the council delivers five frozen meals once a week.

Because of a lack of funding, the transportation offerings are primarily to bring meals to residents unable to drive to the center and to take residents to doctor’s appointments within the parish, McDonald said.

Once a year, McDonald said, the program offers trips. Last year, the council took seniors to the Alexandria Zoo.

Funding for the program was cut this year by the state and federal governments. McDonald said. While the majority of the council’s funding is local, McDonald said it the cuts have hurt the program.

Serving 425 people daily, McDonald said the council depends on community support.

“The more funds that are received, the more people we can help,” she said. “It allows us to provide more services to more people.”

McDonald said the council needs cash donations, as well as paper products including paper plates, napkins, toilet tissue and paper towels.

Checks can be made payable to the Concordia Council on Aging, 405 Carter St., Vidalia, LA, 71373. Supplies can be donated at the Carter Street office or either communal site.

For more information, call 318-336-7887.