BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota senior nutrition service providers have canceled dine-in meals effective March 19 to protect vulnerable individuals from the coronavirus. Providers will be offering alternatives such as take out, home delivered and frozen meal options. They will continue to provide home-delivered meals to current consumers.

“Older adults are at increased risk of complications from COVID-19, however senior nutrition programs are an essential community service,” said the state’s Aging Services Division Director Nancy Nikolas Maier. “Nutrition service providers are committed to providing healthy meals to older adults in a safe way during this health crisis, and we appreciate their partnership.”

The North Dakota Department of Human Services provides federal Older Americans Act funding and state funds to providers.