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Lots of things look far different than they did four months ago, but The Generation Center continues to deliver meals to senior citizens in and around Winchester.

According to Kentucky River Foothills, which operates the center, nearly 8,000 meals have been delivered to Clark County residents since March 13, the last day the center was open.

Earlier this week, three staff members met at the center to deliver a week’s worth of meals to 56  residents. KRF spokesperson Karen Atkins said the number of recipients has been as high as 70, though many are presently on hold.

“They may be able to get out more often or friends may be checking on them,” Atkins said.

The meal delivery program has had to adapt as the COVID-19 situation and guidelines evolved.

“The meal route usually goes out more often,” Atkins said. “Because of COVID, they are going out on Tuesday.”

Where deliveries would include food for a day or two previously and be delivered by volunteers multiple times a week, now recipients get a week’s worth of food delivered by staff.

“We’re protecting everyone,” Atkins said. “We pulled many of our volunteers back, just for safety reasons.”

Atkins said she expects The Generation Center, like other senior-focused organizations, to be among the last to reopen.

“We’re talking about a very vulnerable population,” she said. “We are just waiting for guidance from the governor. It can’t happen without him saying it can happen.”

Staff have been checking in with clients by phone and making sure they have their essential supplies.

“Many of them live alone,” she said. “This has really been a lonely time for them. It’s unbelievably harder for those who live alone or who might be afraid to go out.”