The Great Plates Delivered Program extends its service to seniors.
The program helps seniors and businesses. (Supplied)
Photo: Gaucho Rest. / Courtesy
Nearly in its third month of service, the Los Angeles County Great Plates Delivered program has proven to be of great help to the senior community during times of coronavirus.
Otto Solórzano, acting director of the Los Angeles County Department of Workforce Development (WDACS), which runs the program, said they have been given an extension for the second time to continue the program. This time the extension is until August 9.
“We have 57 restaurants in the program that have distributed almost 400,000 foods for needy seniors,” said Solórzano.
He added that about 80% of the restaurants that participate in the program are owned by minorities.
They are currently serving 3,700 people with three meals a day — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and among the neediest areas are the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles, Inglewood, and Glendale.
The Great Plates Delivered program began on May 1 in order to serve their food to seniors who, due to COVID-19, cannot go outside.
This program effort aims to help those who need home-delivered meals and help get the local restaurant, hospitality and transportation industries back to work.
“Each restaurant receives $ 66 a day for making and sending the food to the people it deserves,” said Solórzano. “This has allowed restaurants to return up to 1,200 workers to the workforce and the program has invested nearly $ 9 million into the local economy.”
The money to pay for this program is divided between FEMA, the State of California, and Los Angeles County. WDACS hopes that the program will be extended once again, especially now that the pandemic is again severely affecting.
The most grateful
Solórzano said that since the program began they have not stopped receiving cards and emails from seniors who are very grateful for the food.
Among them was the story of a Norwalk resident, Sharon Popp, who sent a message thanking them for the help of the meal.
“Getting food seems like having Christmas every day, it’s very exciting to open the bags and see what’s inside,” Popp said.
He added that there were days when he did not eat anything either because he did not have to cook or because the arthritis in his hands did not allow him to cook.
“Amid all this madness, people like you renew my faith in humanity,” he added.
Who Qualifies?
To qualify, individuals must be over the age of 65 or between the ages of 60 and 64 diagnosed, exposed, or at high risk for COVID-19, as defined by the Centers for Disease and Prevention Control (CDC).
Individuals should not receive assistance from other state or federal nutritional assistance programs such as CalFresh / SNAP. You must live alone or with another adult eligible for the program and have a salary of between $ 25,520 to $ 74,940 (single household) or between $ 34,380 to $ 101,460 (two person household) per year.
The Great Plates Delivered program is for Los Angeles County residents only, excluding the city of Los Angeles or any other city that offers its own senior meal program.
To learn more about the program you can call 211 or visit: https://lafound.wdacs.lacounty.gov/great-plates-program/participant-enrollment
