WILTON – Meals for seniors in Franklin, Oxford and Androscoggin counties will continue as usual even though SeniorsPlus is planning to move its kitchen facility from here to the Lewiston-Auburn area, said Connie Jones, director of community services.

More than 300 meals are prepared at the Wilton site and transported to Oxford and Androscoggin counties. Most meals, 180 of the 300, are served in Androscoggin County, she said.

With budget cuts and the Wilton kitchen in need of expansion and renovation, it was a financial decision to change the kitchen site. Less meals will need to be transported, she said.

“But, all our services will continue in Franklin and Oxford counties, including Meals on Wheels and congregate meal sites. … Our intention is to increase services, not change or decrease,” she said. “We’ve been in the Wilton-Farmington community for many years and have no intention of changing services provided in that area. Loss of funding means the organization needs to look for the most efficient way to provide services and for the use of every dollar.”

Food prices have gone up but that’s only one issue. Staff and transportation costs mean looking for the best way to provide the meals, she said. There is a waiting list of seniors in Franklin County who would like to have Meals on Wheels. A lack of funding has created the list.

A site in Androscoggin County has not been found and no date as been set for closing the Wilton kitchen, she said.

The future of the Wilton building, owned by SeniorsPlus, has not been determined, she said. The organization is exploring what may or may not work, including another agency having use of the kitchen.

The organization recently purchased a mobile office unit that will take services to seniors instead of expecting them to drive to one centralized place. Without the ability to afford offices everywhere, staff can travel in the van with office equipment and seating, she said.