(Editor's note: The following is part of a letter sent to Jean Kelley of Burien with a copy to the Times/News. Mrs. Kelley's letter on the closing of the Burien Nutritional Center appeared in the Feb. 27 Times/News.)

We are very sorry for any and all distress our closing of the Burien site has caused you and others. It is not a decision we came to easily.

However, the primary reasons we closed Burien are not the ones you mentioned. In your letter you state, "How a site can be judged on how much MONEY is coming in instead of how many hot meals we are furnishing to older seniors, who can not afford any better, is beyond my comprehension."

In fact, funding for this program is based primarily on meal count, that is, how many hot meals are furnished to seniors, not on donations.

Because of the 40 percent drop in meals served at Burien since 2004 and no sign the trend is going to change AND because we are able to provide transportation, closing Burien was the option that would hurt as few needy seniors as possible taking all of King County into consideration.

Finally, you mention in your letter that the other two nearby hot lunch programs sites require everyone to pay $3. The donation policy for all our sites is the same: donations are encouraged but no one over the age of 60 is to be turned away due to inability to pay or an inability to pay the full suggested amount.

Also, any ideas you have and help you can give letting the Burien seniors know about the nearby hot lunch options (SeaTac Community Center and Des Moines Senior Center) and transportation available to them would be most welcome.

Kate Turpin

Vice President

Senior Services-King County