Staff and volunteers at the Bella Vida Senior Center are serving over 1,200 meals a day to seniors all over the Santa Clarita Valley.
Before the shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bella Vida Senior Center served around 280 to 300 hot meals a day in their grand ballroom, accompanied by music and entertainment.
However, when the doors of the Senior Center was forced to close their doors on March 13, the first thing that staff worried about was how they would continue to provide services to the community, according to Kevin MacDonald, chief executive officer of the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center.
So staff and volunteers set to work organizing a drive-through meal service for their seniors.
“On the first day, we served 100, now we serve an average of 450 meals a day,” said MacDonald. “We didn’t know what the demand was going to be like, it’s been a fantastic service.”
Seniors and their loved ones can pick up the meals safely at the Bella Vida SCV Senior Center on Golden Valley Road. Volunteers offer good cheer and bright smiles to the visiting drivers, often accompanied by music or fun themed outfits.
“As long as your name is one the list you can pick up a meal. For homebound seniors we try to keep it as little bureaucracy as possible, “ said MacDonald. “Back in March, our home-delivered meals were only for our truly homebound seniors, but thankfully the county in their wisdom loosened the restrictions knowing that it was not practical or safe for many of our seniors to go out.”
Bella Vida kitchen staff start working at 5:30 in the morning to prepare and pack over 700 additional fresh, nutritious meals a day for volunteers to deliver to homebound seniors across the Santa Clarita Valley, according to MacDonald.
“We have 70 volunteers driving and taking meals out, going door to door,” said MacDonald. “Back in the days before (coronavirus) we used to be able to chat and get close to them, and now we have to essentially knock and drop… getting six feet away to make sure they get the food.”
The SCV Senior Center’s “remarkable warmth and compassion” has not diminished during these uncertain times, but its spirit thrives beyond the walls, responding to the needs of seniors, officials said.
MacDonald encouraged grateful residents to send thank you notes that can be shared with all staff, or make donations to help the SCV Senior Center to continue providing these programs.
To learn more about senior meal programs or to donate to the Bella Vida Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, click here.
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Received a nice WARM lunch today; meatloaf + mashed. Love a nice warm lunch.
Thank you
Judy