For about nine years, 63-year-old Dennis Norton has dealt with the effects of Parkinson’s Disease, a disease that has made it nearly impossible for him make home-cooked meals.

He says he can't hold a frying pan steady anymore because of the disease. So Edwin, Dennis’ son, signed him up for La Crosse County’s senior meal site program.

"It’s good to know that he’ll have at least one decent meal during the day while we’re gone [at work]," Edwin said.

As a part of the program, the meal is prepared by volunteers at a meal site and then delivered to the home. And today city of La Crosse Mayor Matt Harter paid a special visit to Dennis, delivering his meal.

Mayor Harter spent part of the day volunteering to raise awareness of senior hunger and the importance of meal programs. He says, "At some point in our lives we’ll all need to lean on someone else and this is just one opportunity for some of us to give back in a small way.”

Nutrition coordinator for the La Crosse County Aging Unit Dawn Jostad says many seniors are unable to leave their home, so having a meal delivered to them is essential.

"Some of them may have just come home from surgery, some may be just not able to drive, they can’t do the shopping, walking around and all that stuff and their health condition restricts them to their home," Jostad explained.

And Dennis says although some days are better than others when it comes to dealing with his Parkinson's, he says the food is just fine.

“I get a good meal. It’s hot, warm. I can’t complain at all.”

The La Crosse County senior meal site program is mostly funded by the Older American Act, a federal government program. But the county does ask for small donations from the program’s participants.