Our dining teams are not only food service heroes, but champions in creating “safe” dining environments and services for everyone to enjoy our food!

The community in Tylertown, Mississippi truly missed Cura’s food at Walthall General Hospital.  The culinary team now offers a new and convenient curb side service so that hospital visitors and members of the community can safely enjoy a hot and delicious meal prepared to order from their favorite hospital cafe!

Launched on September 21, customers enjoy a variety of menu options such as fried chicken, smothered pork chops, meatloaf and fried catfish prepared fresh with homemade baked mac & cheese or mashed potatoes with a roll or cornbread. For those looking for a healthier alternative, customers may select from baked chicken, blackened catfish and grilled pork chops served with steamed veggies and turnip greens. Baked fruit cobbler, homemade cakes, parfaits and pies also tempt the sweet tooth!

Customers also receive a 16 oz. tea or fountain beverage to go along with their fabulous meal for only $6.20! Add dessert for a total of $8.65. Ready to order?  Customers may call and access the menu Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. Customers are instructed to arrive at the end of the loading dock from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. where a member of the nutrition staff delivers the meal personally to the customer cars.

Safe openings were also recognized by our clients and residents!

At Lake Eire College of Osteopathic Medicine Senior Living Communities for Regency at South Shore and Parkside North East, Laurie Kiler, director of dining services, received praise for her team’s safe reopening from her client. “Laurie did a phenomenal job leading the Cura team. It was the first time for certain staff as they are new since COVID-19 hit, plus many new residents. The hiccups were easily fixed and when residents threw a curve ball she and her team excelled. Thank you!”  Kristen M. Gehrlein, MHSA, PCHA.  LECOM Institute for Successful Aging, Regency Parkside North East, Erie, PA.

The Peter Becker dining team in Harleysville, PA, are always going above and beyond to delight residents, whether it’s transforming the cafe into a pop-up grocery market to an outdoor dining event where the team successfully roasted 160 pounds of pork butts in an outdoor smoker.

The team once again provided another glorious and safe memory for a resident who celebrated an 80th birthday! Thrown by Gloria Rich for her husband, Jim, the Cura team received the following note:

“Just had to write to tell you how pleased I was about Jim’s 80th Birthday in the Reflections Dining Room.  As soon as you opened up the room for residents to dine with other residents, I reserved the room for Jim’s birthday.  We had five couples altogether.  Since Jim cannot eat anything with dairy, I ordered his favorite lemon meringue pie for all.  I also told Sam it was to be a surprise for Jim.   I found out that Sam had decorated the room herself.  She did a fantastic job the entire evening.  The servers were very professional too and they seemed to be happy to make the party a success. Thank you to the staff for making this dining room available to residents during this pandemic.  Now we can eat with other residents and still be safely distanced.  It is our opportunity to eat with new residents who feel very separated at this time.  It will be nice to get to know them.  Dinner was always our social hour and a time to involve new residents. Now we have a way to do that. You all are a big part of why we love living here at Peter Becker Community.” Gratefully, Gloria Rich, Resident at Peter Becker Community.

Medical staff also appreciate the pop-up markets that the Cura team has provided to those on the front lines who have little opportunity to go grocery shopping.  In the midst of the virus and the associated mitigations, the caregivers are able to shop without having to leave Punxsutawney Area Hospital in Pennsylvania. Since the beginning of April, the cafeteria has been offering a limited selection of grocery and food items for hospital employees to purchase. “This grocery service is outside what is normally asked of the food service department, but their efforts do not go unnoticed, as there is a great appreciation for creating this option!”  Katie Donald, Recruitment/Public Relations Specialist, Punxsutawney Area Hospital, Punxsutawney, PA.  

The team at The Lutheran Community at Telford in Pennsylvania, was very pleased to receive a thank you note from a couple who normally didn’t use dining services, but since COVID-19, has relied on Cura for their meals.  “Hi all, I just wanted to tell you that the dining service during this pandemic has been super.  As an outside unit, we didn’t use the dining services very much before the self-isolation.  Now, because of circumstances we are using it on a regular basis.  I told Shannon, the Meadows manager, that we certainly appreciate the service.  The people who prepare and deliver the meals have been super nice and friendly.  Also, if there is ANY problem, Shannon takes care of it very quickly. Please pass along our thanks to all of the employees who help in dining services. Stay safe and thanks for your leadership,” Chris and Ed Kerber, residents at the Lutheran Community at Telford, PA.