East Palo Alto seniors can obtain free, daily meals

The City of East Palo Alto provides nutritious meals for senior citizens Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meals are served at the East Palo Alto Senior Center and they are provided through the Senior Congregate Nutrition and Transportation program, which is funded by the County of San Mateo Division of Aging and Adult Services.

Peninsula Volunteers caters the food that is served in the program, while Career Resources provides kitchen aide services.

Tammy Holloway, the nutrition site supervisor for the City of East Palo Alto, said that the lunch program at the senior center is no-fee based, and adults over the age of 60 or who are disabled are eligible for it.

The supporters of the free meals for seniors program recommended that the East Palo Alto City Council authorize the continuation of the reimbursement agreement with San Mateo County, and continue the contracts with Peninsula Volunteers and Career Resources. The contract with Peninsula Volunteers was recommended for $60,000, and the one with Career Resources was recommended for $22,000.

Holloway added that there are monthly blood pressure and blood sugar tests available for all seniors along with cholesterol checks.

“We want to make sure hypertension for high blood pressure stays low,” Holloway said.

Holloway is inviting more seniors over to the Center, because “it’s just a great place for them to come in and socialize.”

To inform more people about the program, Holloway said she plans to circulate a letter about the lunch program throughout East Palo Alto, so that the program grows and more seniors come to the East Palo Alto Senior Center for the free meals.

“I’ve really been working hard,” Holloway said. “I love this program.”

Jamauri Bowles, the author of this article, worked as a summer intern at EPA Today and can be reached by email at epatoday@epatoday.org.