Rural Meal Sites: Small Towns, Big Hearts
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
In the small towns scattered across Yellowstone County, the rural meal sites in Custer, Worden, Shepherd, Huntley, and Broadview are more than places to eat—they’re places where people come to feel known. They are rooms where familiar faces gather, where empty seats are noticed, and where conversations linger long after the plates are cleared.
The roots of these sites reach back to the 1970s, when seniors first began meeting for meals in local cafés: the Kozy Korner Kafe in Custer and the Main Spot Café in Worden. These early gatherings were simple, but they carried something powerful: comfort, companionship, and the reassurance that someone would always be glad to see you walk through the door.
In Broadview, that sense of belonging eventually took physical shape with the groundbreaking of the Senior and Community Center in 1988. It wasn’t just about building walls; it was about building a future where older adults would always have a place to gather, laugh, and look out for one another.
As the years went on, needs changed, and the community responded with heart. In the early 2000s, the Worden area received Meals on Wheels service for the first time, ensuring that even homebound neighbors stayed connected to the larger community through warm meals and warm hellos. The Senior Commodity Program expanded into rural areas as well, reminding older adults that they weren’t forgotten, no matter how far they lived from Billings.
In Shepherd, seniors found a welcoming home at the Feedlot, where stories were shared as naturally as the meals. Huntley’s path was full of heart: early gatherings at the Yellowstone Valley Cooperative offices grew into the potluck tradition at the Sportsman’s Club. The tables overflowed not just with food, but with pride, every dish a small act of love from one neighbor to another. Over the years, meal providers shifted, venues changed, and adjustments had to be made, but the spirit remained unshakeable. The Huntley group kept showing up, kept sharing meals, kept finding reasons to come together.
And that is the story of these rural sites: people showing up for one another, again and again, year after year. Even when the world shifted, even when challenges came, these small towns held tightly to what matters - connection, generosity, and community.
Today, when you walk into any of these sites, you can feel it. Someone waves you over to sit with them. Someone asks how your grandkids are doing. Someone brings a pan of bars “just because.” The meal may bring people in, but it’s the togetherness that brings them back.
In Custer, Worden, Shepherd, Huntley, and Broadview, community hasn’t faded with time - it has deepened. These meal sites are proof that in rural Montana, no one has to age alone - not when neighbors care this deeply.
Around the Table: Stories from Huntley and Shepherd Meal Sites
During recent visits to the Huntley and Shepherd meal sites, seniors shared what makes these gatherings so special. At Huntley, the group went around the room, offering gratitude for friends, community, and simple acts of kindness.
“All of my friends, and all the new friends I have made sense coming to lunch.” – Huntley newcomer
“I’m thankful for the kindness that everyone shows here.” – Huntley participant
In Shepherd, one senior reflected on the sense of belonging:
“I’ve never been in such a special place; a community where everybody knows everybody.” – Shepherd participant
These voices show that the meal may bring people through the door, but it’s the friendships, laughter, and sense of community that keep them coming back.
Allies In Aging Blog brought to you by First Interstate Bank.