Dozens came out for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Council on Aging’s improved food pantry in the Multi-service Center on Wednesday, September 7.

The updates complement the Council on Aging’s existing food pantry with a new refrigerator and freezer. The refrigerator and freezer will help diversify and improve the food selection at the seniors-only pantry,  said Yvonne Stone, president of the Friends of Wareham’s Elderly.

“Chicken, steak... we can offer more than canned and dried goods now. This will help [seniors’] nutrition. They will be able to eat better,” Stone said. “We have been working on this for a while.”

The Friends gifted the refrigerator and freezer to the Council on Aging after receiving a $2,000 grant for the items through the United Way of Greater New Bedford’s mini-grant program last May.

Larry Gaines and Dolores Cabreal, members of the Friends of Wareham’s  Elderly, spearheaded the grant proposal.

“It takes great citizens to step up and certainly Larry and Dolores have done that with the seniors in Wareham,” said Claudia Kirk of the United Way of Greater New Bedford.

The grand opening of the improved food pantry was attended by dozens of community members and officials. State Representative Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham) and Senator Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton) were in attendance.

The Council on Aging is always accepting donations of food to the pantry. Donations may be dropped off at the Council on Aging, located at 48 Marion Road.