LANSING — The Department of Health and Human Services has expanded its Restaurant Meal Program to over 100 restaurants statewide for senior citizens and other qualifying residents to use the Bridge Card.

According to the department, about 30% of Michigan’s population are eligible for the food assistance program: elderly, disabled and homeless residents and their spouses. The state uses the Bridge Card to provide food assistance to qualifying Michigan residents.

Nicole Denson-Sogbaka, the administration policy director at the department, says the program is designed to give more access to nutritious food options for senior citizens and others in need of food assistance.

“Any restaurant can participate,” Denson-Sogbaka said. “The application is through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service that approves the restaurant for the program, and the restaurant will have an agreement with the state.”

Most are fast food establishments.

Doug Johnson, the manager at a participating Subway in Flushing, said he doesn’t think many senior citizens and qualifying applicants even know about the program.

“I’ve been here a long time, about 10 years, and I have a couple of kids come in to get food for their grandparents,” Johnson said. “And they didn’t even know about it. They asked me what it was and I had to explain how it worked, so maybe (their grandparents) can make some use of it.”

Kandi Lannen, the director of community and business advancement for the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan, says restaurant programs that provide meals to the elderly help senior citizens socialize, benefiting their overall health and wellness.

The Traverse City-based agency serves Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee and Wexford counties.

A list of participating restaurants is available on the Health and Human Resources Restaurant Meal Program website at: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/food/restaurant-meal-program.