California Launching Program That Will Give Needy Seniors 3 Meals A Day From Local Eateries
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a new program that will give seniors three meals a day delivered from local restaurants - at no cost.
The governor focused his daily press conference on Friday on how the state is working to make sure the population most at-risk from the coronavirus pandemic is safe.
"There's over 5.7 million older Californians," Newsom said. "But 1.2 million live alone, socially isolated, unable in many respects to cook their own meals."
To help, Newsom announced the Restaurants Deliver: Home Meals for Seniors program.
The program is a partnership between local governments, FEMA and restaurants that will give seniors who sign up three meals a day all week.
"This partnership will allow for the ability for restaurants to start rehiring people, or keep people currently employed, and start preparing meals," Newsom said.
Newsom says the program will be the first of its kind in the nation. The governor hopes seniors, the restaurant industry and area farmers will all get help from this move.
"All of us are vulnerable, we don't know the extent of what it can do," said Mary Smith, a senior in North Highlands.
Smith says a simple task like going to the grocery store feels like a dangerous chore during this pandemic.
"Life is scary," she said.
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She plans to take advantage of the program which will deliver three meals a day for qualifying seniors at no cost.
"It sounds great and we don't have to put ourselves in any more risk than necessary," Smith said.
The program goes into effect immediately and will reimburse local restaurants for delivering nutritious meals to at-risk seniors. It's a move the governor says will allow restaurants across the state to rehire workers.
"There's nutritious guidelines. I keep saying nutrition for a reason. We want to make sure that we are focused on locally-produced produce. We want to connect our farms to this effort," Newsom said.
The owner of Tony's Farm Stand in Marysville, Julie Stevenson, said she's already been dropping off produce to seniors in her neighborhood. She said it sometimes goes to waste.
"You realize they don't know how to cook, or they're by themselves," she said.
Stevenson says signing up for this platform will help two struggling industries at once.
"It helps the small farms and the restaurants because it's giving an outlet for our produce and our fresh fruits and vegetables and giving the employees something to cook up for somebody," she said.
FEMA will cover 75% of the costs of the meals, with the state contributing a majority of the remaining cost.
More details about the program will be posted soon. The state has set up a website that will have more information: https://covid19.ca.gov/restaurants-deliver-home-meals-for-seniors/.
