SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The County of Santa Cruz announced that five local food businesses have been chosen to deliver fresh, nutritious meals to hundreds of local seniors during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Great Plates Delivered serves food to vulnerable older adults through a federal economic stimulus for restaurants.
In May, Santa Cruz County sought applications from local restaurateurs and caterers to prepare and provide meals.
A committee chose four restaurants and one caterer: Back Nine Grill and Bar, Johnny’s Harborside, Roaring Camp, Pearl of the Ocean and Swing Time Catering.
Great Plates Delivered began its meal deliveries during Memorial Day weekend, and it has now served thousands of meals to 413 participants, according to a county press release, with additional applicants pending approval.
To apply, email hs*************@sa*************.us or call 454-4406. People are asked to leave their full name, phone, date of birth and preferred language on a confidential email or voice mail.
The program delivers more than 1,000 healthy meals to older adults each day, the county reported.
The Area Agency on Aging, Community Bridges, 211 Santa Cruz County, Grey Bears, Senior Network Services, Second Harvest Food Bank, the Volunteer Center and the City of Watsonville all participated on the steering committee.
The program will expire June 10 unless the federal government grants the state of California’s request for a 30-day extension. County leaders are awaiting FEMA’s response to the state.
Seventy-five percent of Great Plates is funded through the federal CARES Act, with the state providing 18.75% and the rest coming from Community Foundation Santa Cruz County.
