FARMINGTON – The opening of two Lunch Plus Cafes, one in Wilton and another in Farmington, was celebrated Thursday.

The new meal sites for seniors, the disabled and care-givers were established with help from the American Recovery Act or stimulus funds, said Connie Jones, director of community services at SeniorsPlus.

The new Masonic Hall on Bryant Road will serve lunches at noon for a minimal price Monday through Thursday while Old South Church in Farmington will host a site from 11:30 to 1 p.m. one day a week, Thursdays, said Robin Andrews, dining site coordinator.

“SeniorsPlus is not leaving the community,” Jones told the gathering at Old South. “We’re only changing locations.”

The longtime SeniorsPlus site on Routes 2 and 4 in Wilton will be closed starting June 1. The last meal was served Wednesday at that site.

The organization announced last year that it was looking to move its kitchen closer to the Lewiston area and close the Wilton one.

“It’s a small kitchen in Wilton where 400 meals a day have been produced but it took multiple shifts,” Jones said. “For efficiency and economy sake, it’s being moved.”

After a lengthy search, SeniorsPlus is negotiating the use of a kitchen in Lewiston that is part of the National Guard Armory, the site of the Old Green Ladle Restaurant, she said. A once a month meal for the guard leaves that kitchen vacant the rest of the time. Meals will be transported to meal sites such as these new ones.

Along with the meals, various educational programs are offered at the meal sites. SeniorsPlus mobile van will also be there once a month.

The cribbage, bingo and exercise programs offered in Wilton now will still be available, Jones said, just at different places.

Over 40 volunteers from Old South Church have offered to help serve and run the meal site, said the Rev. Cathie Wallace, Old South’s pastor.

The church along with Henderson Memorial Baptist and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church hosted a community Warming Center different months this winter where SeniorsPlus meals were served. The church has now committed to providing the meal site once a week for a year, she said.

Many come early for fellowship and meal reservations can be made by calling the church at 778-0424 by 9 a.m. on Wednesdays, she said.

“We love opening our space and reaching out to the community,” Wallace said.