California Will Deliver 3 FREE Meals Per Day to Senior Citizens
California is launching a new program that will help older adults and others at high risk from COVID-19 by delivering three free meals a day.
In a recent press conference, Governor Newsom explained that Restaurants Deliver: Home Meals for Seniors is the first program of its kind in the country.
Since Restaurants Deliver will use local eateries to prepare and deliver the food, this program will both help senior citizens and other high risk adults to stay home and stay healthy and will also support local restaurants and employees who have lost business during the pandemic.
Local governments will be responsible for choosing restaurants for the program, which will provide three meals a day, seven days a week for seniors in need. The state is already working with local governments to identify seniors who are eligible for the program, including those who meet certain economic criteria, have a high risk of exposure to the virus, or are immunosuppressed.
If you or someone you know think they may qualify for this program, Governor Newsome has said that the best way to begin the process is to call 211 or visit 211.org. California seniors are also encouraged to visit the California Department of Aging’s COVID-19 page for a list of resources for older and other at-risk adults.
See the complete list of stores offering special shopping hours for senior citizens.
This is wonderful!
Amazing. Wish NY would do this.
New York does something similar. My parents are in their seventies and are eligible for the program. I don’t live near them, so not only does the program provide them with essentials but it provides me with a little peace of mind.
I live in NY and it’s called Meals on Wheels 😊
Nothing is “free” of course…..CA taxpayers are paying for it.
During this pandemic, I’m sure people don’t mind .
Heartless comment
It was a simple statement of fact and a good reminder to everyone.
Doug’s comment didn’t state his opinion in any way. He may be very supportive of this use of taxpayer funds but at the end of the day we should all remember every time we cheer for a “free” government program that either taxes have to increase to support it or another program will get less funding.
Well said Mommyspendsless. The money has to come from somewhere to provide something for “free” to others. Just be aware of how they are allocating that money. And if you dont like it, speak up and tell your state congressman…not blogs and venting on social media.
I am sure majority of seniors paid taxes at some point as well. Their children are probably paying taxes now. One day each one of us will become a senior, and you never know what surprises life prepared for you. A lot of older adults are isolated and don’t have any support or income. Let’s be kind to our seniors!
I am pretty sure these elderly people were/are tax payers.
What difference does that make? Still mostly someone else’s tax follars.
My parents never paid income taxes. They immigrated here in the US in their senior years and receive MediCal, food stamps, and I will let them know about this program.
So yes, it’s possible not to pay in and receive benefits in California– all legal. The more you know.
This is true, but it’s a interesting idea to solve two issues – seems like it would cost less to pay the restaurants for the food to provide the people versus stimulus money to the restaurants and then paying also for somewhere else to make food. Keep people employed by using local places and still help people. I’m interested to learn more about how this will work.
California revenues lots of Taxes. It’s the 5th largest economy in the world and helps support other states with its federal taxes. No one minds that their taxes are being used to give back to the community.
I live in California and wouldn’t mind this. We need to take care of them. They were tax payers too.
I live in Cali and I don’t mind at all.
Very true. I’m a Californian and I think this is one of the best uses of my tax dollars I’ve ever seen
Money spent on programs like this SAVE taxpayer dollars by preventing costly hospital stays. A few bucks for meals to prevent hundreds of thousands in medical costs? I’m a Californian that is happy to have a smart governor in charge right now.
This is wonderful ❤️
Great that the state is putting taxpayer funds toward this. I’d be proud to contribute-even if I didn’t fire benefit from this program.
Love your outlook. I wish more people were like you! Take care.
Miami-Dade County in Florida offers this as well. My aunt is in her 80s and was notified of this service. She refused because she is mentally and physically like a woman in her 60s and financially doesn’t need the help either, but she’s passed the word along to everyone she knows.
Some of her older neighbors didn’t even know they were eligible.
Hi Lydia, do you happen to know the name of the program? My mom lives in Palm Beach County, want to see if she would qualify. Thanks.
Allison, Have her call 211 and let them know she is in need of warm meals. They will get her started with the process.
This is awesome! Good job Cali and any other state/city/county doing this and something similar. I wish Maryland would where I live, I am severely immuno compromised from my kidney/pancreas transplant and the medications. 🙁
Prayers of comfort to you, Jamie, and that your state will soon find a way to make this possible for all its citizens.
What a blessing! Thank you for sharing some uplifting news with all of us and may we all find a way to pay it forward.
You’re very welcome, Bobbie!
Well it’s not yet available for seniors in California & they don’t know when it will be available. It’s up to the governor to put it in place. So as of this date nothing is available. Disappointed. If anyone knows differently I sure would appreciate any information. Thank you!
This is awesome. Thanks H2S for posting this.
You’re SO welcome! 😊
Second generation proud Californian. Our state has led the way again. I gladly pay higher taxes for responsive and responsible government leadership and assistance. As our Gov. Newsom has said, we are a nation state, have been and will continue to be.
Oh jeez.
It’s a lovely day. Now…..if you can’t say anything nice….. don’t say anything at all.
Don’t try to silence people that disagree with you with a “lovely day” passive/aggressive response. I agree with the above “oh jeez”.
Great program but incredibly wasteful from a financial standpoint. This allows a budget of $16 for breakfast, $17 for lunch and $28 for dinner. That’s $61 a day, $427 per week and almost $2,000 a month.
Here’s my quarter ( inflation from the 2cents opinion). I am a senior citizen who has been disabled for over 15 years. I reside now in Bay Area (California) and paid taxes when I was employed, I would like having someone who is capable to bring me something to eat on a daily basis though I only eat lunch and dinner. My income is tighter than my jeans that I wear so I am all for the help that we should be given, sure programs cost money however would rather be fed than end up in a hospital bed suffering from malnutrition because someone complained about the costs for helping out the senior citizens who really need it. Not sure how old some of you are, but I can tell you this much : let’s wait see when the generations that follow us “baby boomers ” handle their lives and the lives of their children following them when or if the world is still here and hasn’t been taken over by another lifeform.
Will any of them be in the shoes of generations before you and welcome help from others who are willing to? Think about it …. * just my 25 cents worth opinion*