DOVER, Del.- There was an unfamiliar sign on Monday at the doors of the Modern Maturity Center in Dover: the senior center was closed for business.

But inside, a familiar group of Meal on Wheels volunteers and senior center staffers were cooking meals and preparing to deliver to seniors who cannot leave home and live in Kent County, which has seen significant disruption to daily life over concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

"Everybody needs to eat and they got to have a hot meal as long as I'm not sick I'm going to take it," said Ronnie Allen, a longtime Meals on Wheels volunteer with the program.

Officials at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover said on Monday that they still intended to offer Meals on Wheels services and deliveries until otherwise instructed.

Program coordinator Trudy Clay said drivers would be taking specific steps to ensure the health and well-being of both themselves and meal recipients, like respecting a six-foot distance from seniors whom they were delivering meals to.

Clay said that meant drivers can leave a meal inside the entrance to a seniors' home after verbally ensuring the meal recipient is OK.

"We're asking the drivers to make sure that they be mindful of the contact clients like to give him a hug to say thank you you know at the moment that's going to have to be relaxed."

Carolyn Fredericks with the Modern Maturity Center said the kitchen was trying to stockpile ingredients needed to make meals and would be delivering two meals to seniors --- one warm and one frozen for later consumption --- in the near future.

But Fredericks said she is hopeful the center can continue to deliver meals, despite the pandemic.

"We've seen everything that's happening in the grocery stores and everything but these are the people that are home that cannot get out and go to the grocery store," she said.