It's the golden anniversary for the Meals on Wheels program, and staff and volunteers from Dartmouth's Council on Aging and Coastline Elderly Services are making sure the half a century is properly commemorated.

A large group of volunteers including Town Administrator Shawn MacInnes packed and delivered hundreds of meals through the rain to Dartmouth’s homebound, elderly residents on Thursday, March 25.

“The staff here does such an absolutely wonderful job getting all this ready,” COA Director Amy DiPietro said.

Meals are packed inside the Council on Aging’s kitchen at the newly named Connor Center for Active Living. Coastline has partnered with the Dartmouth Council on Aging for 42 years.

Prior to the pandemic, deliveries were made by senior employees through the ​​Senior Community Service Employment Program. These days, deliveries are typically made by one driver who heads to upward of 140 sites per day from the Bliss Corner Center.

“And we’ve never missed a day,” Coastline CEO Justin Lees said.

Along with warm meals, the program also offers residents a one-year shelf-stable package of nonperishables in case of major road blockages due to inclement weather.

To be eligible for deliveries, residents must be aged 60 or older. No other requirements are necessary, Lees said.

In addition to providing meals, DiPietro said the program is a great way for homebound populations to have some social interaction — particularly during the pandemic.

“It’s a great way to check in on people who weren’t able to really see around the center anymore,” DiPietro said.

Along with the collaborative deliveries, DiPietro said the Bliss Corner center will host a lunch party for the program’s 50th anniversary on April 15 at 11:30 a.m.

The lunch is free and will include Italian stuffed shells. Attendees can also play bingo and win prizes.

“We just want to get the word out there on this wonderful program,” DiPietro said.