New Lenox to Consolidate Meals on Wheels Program with Frankfort Township

New Lenox Township Board of Trustees Meeting | September

Article Summary: The New Lenox Township Meals on Wheels program, currently operated from its senior housing building, will be discontinued at the end of September and consolidated with Frankfort Township’s program. Officials assured the board that New Lenox residents will continue to be served without interruption, though the board discussed the future financial implications of the new arrangement.

Meals on Wheels Consolidation Key Points:

• The New Lenox-based Meals on Wheels program will cease operations at the end of September 2025.

• Services will be merged with the Frankfort Township program, which will take over meal delivery for New Lenox residents.

• The board discussed the need to address how New Lenox Township will continue to absorb some of the meal costs for its residents under the new consolidated structure.

• The change aims to streamline operations while ensuring continuity of service for seniors.

The New Lenox Township Board of Trustees learned on Thursday, September 11, 2025, that its local Meals on Wheels program will be consolidated with Frankfort Township’s service at the end of the month.

During her monthly report, Trustee Barbara Kaupas announced that the program, which had been run out of the basement of the township’s senior housing building, is closing. Starting in October, meal delivery for New Lenox Township residents will be handled by the Frankfort Township program, which will continue to serve all current recipients.

The consolidation marks a significant operational shift for the vital senior service. According to meeting minutes, the announcement prompted a discussion among the board members about the financial aspects of the change. The board addressed the fact that New Lenox Township currently absorbs a portion of the meal costs for its residents and will need to determine how that financial support will be handled in the future under the new, merged system. No immediate decision was made, but the topic was flagged for future consideration.

The change comes as the township’s food pantry continues to see high demand. Kaupas reported that in August, the pantry served 410 families, or 1,065 individuals, a rise she attributed to the additional costs families face as children return to school. She assured the board that the pantry remains sufficiently stocked to meet the community’s needs, thanks in part to a recent food show attended by Facilities and Program Director Jim Pitcairn, where he secured many needed items.

To further support the food pantry, Kaupas reminded the board of the upcoming annual “Empty Bowls” event hosted by the Friends of the Park on September 27, which will directly benefit the pantry.