La Comida’s senior lunch program changes to meet critical needs by now serving boxed lunches out of its two locations
Palo Alto, California — March 24, 2020 — To fill a vital need for seniors during the Coronavirus outbreak, La Comida has changed its lunchtime meal service. La Comida, Palo Alto’s only senior nutrition program, is now serving boxed lunches “to go” at its two weekday lunch locations: Stevenson House and The Masonic Center (461 Florence across from the Apple Store in Downtown Palo Alto).
La Comida, which has been serving hot weekday meals to seniors since 1972, has suspended its onsite communal meal service and is now serving 140-160 boxed lunches daily to people who are able to pick up a lunch at one of their two locations.
“One of our patrons whose mother is 90 years old contacted us because her mother is not driving anymore. She was worried about how her mother would still get a warm nutritious meal each day,” said Mary Ruth Batchelder, La Comida’s Site Manager. “She’s now picking up a meal for her mother and several other seniors in the neighborhood.”
La Comida’s boxed lunches feel safer to many seniors who have concerns about venturing out to grocery stores during the virus outbreak. During this “shelter in place” period, La Comida is now encouraging children, relatives, and friends of seniors to come register and pick up the boxed lunch if a senior doesn’t feel comfortable picking up their own meal. Hours are between 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. at the Stevenson location and 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. at the Masonic location. Seniors from the surrounding areas of Menlo Park, Los Altos, and Mountain View are also welcome to take advantage of La Comida’s services during this time. “We are normally a communal meal site, but we have shifted to a box lunch “to go” model during this crisis to meet critical needs,” said Batchelder.
For homeless seniors and those who cannot cook for themselves, La Comida’s lunch program is more vital than ever before. Several senior centers have closed and there aren’t many meal programs in Palo Alto. The well-balanced lunch, which includes an entrée, salad, roll, dessert, and milk, is often sizeable enough for seniors to save leftovers in the refrigerator for dinner later that day. Frequently, bread donations from local stores are also available.
La Comida is practicing a social distancing approach to serving the boxed lunches. The professionally trained cooking staff follows Public Health and CDC guidelines in disinfecting all surfaces, wearing gloves in serving the boxed lunches, and providing hand sanitizers and anti-bacterial agents for the one-time registration needed to get started.
“Things are running smoothly and efficiently. People are coming and getting their lunches with minimal contact,” said La Comida Co-President, Michael Patrick. “We appreciate the support of all of our volunteers, and we want to thank Santa Clara County’s Senior Nutrition Program, the City of Palo Alto, and so many of our supporters who help fill the financial gap that the $3 suggested donation for each meal doesn’t cover.”
To get started, patrons can register at either La Comida Stevenson or Masonic locations by filling out a one-page form and providing proof of age. Additional information and La Comida’s menu can be accessed at www.lacomida.org.
La Comida de California is a 501(c)3 organization and Palo Alto’s only senior nutrition program. Operating weekdays out of Stevenson House on East Charleston and The Masonic Center in Downtown Palo Alto at 461 Florence (across from the Apple Store), La Comida serves a professionally-planned and thoughtfully-prepared menu that changes daily. Each three-course meal is delicious, warm, and includes the recommended daily dietary allowance for seniors. Before the Coronavirus outbreak, La Comida’s communal dining experience included music and activities to encourage seniors to come and build friendships and contributed to their feeling of belonging. Meals are subsidized so that they are affordable for low-income seniors. The organization suggests a $3 donation per meal for adults over 60 years of age and $8 for adults under 60. La Comida is where friends and food meet.
Press Contact: Amy Shaw
