For 2016, Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging has partnered with Sodexo, which operates the dining hall at Baker University, to provide CHAMPSS meals for senior citizens 60 and older.

CHAMPSS, which stands for Choosing Healthy Appetizing Meal Plan Solutions for Seniors, is a program to provide Baldwin City’s older citizens with healthy and affordable meals. Sodexo is now working with Douglas County through the Baker cafeteria. Each meal is paid for through donation, the suggested amount is set at $3, and whatever cost is left over is covered by the state.

Sodexo Administrative Assistant Beverly Thomas says the overall goal of CHAMPSS is to “assist the elderly community, because there are just not a lot of low cost, healthy options. CHAMPSS will help us meet our hunger initiatives set by the state, and that is really important to us.”

The new meal plan currently has about eight patrons a day, and Thomas expects the program to continue growing.

If the program becomes too large for Sodexo to accommodate, Thomas says that students will always remain the priority.

“We are happy to help anyone, but our first goal is to make sure students aren’t out,” she said. “If it somehow became overwhelming, we would shut down the program.”

Local Sodexo employee Scott Sconce has a personal tie to the CHAMPSS program.

“My mom lives in Baldwin City and really likes having access to the cafeteria,” he said. “She comes almost every day and loves to see what the kids are up to.”

The CHAMPSS food choices have been approved and developed by a licensed dietician and includes 2.5 ounces of meat or protein, a serving of grain or starch, a serving of whole grain, a cup of vegetables or salad, 2/3 cup of fruit and an 8-ounce low fat dairy. Dessert is not part of the CHAMPSS meal plan, and neither is coffee, tea or soda.

As CHAMPSS develops, employees on the cafeteria staff say they hope to see interaction grow between students and the senior citizens.