The Board of Directors of the Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens, Area Agency on Aging (AAA), voted in favor of providing meal services to seniors in Santa Barbara County, on a temporary basis, beginning on 1st of July.

“The Regional Aging and Community Agency were notified earlier in May that the current provider will cease senior meal operations effective July 1,” said Randall Harris, Chairman of the Board.

“Understanding the vital role that good nutrition plays in the health and lives of seniors, we immediately issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to seek suppliers to continue meal services,” said Harris.

However, the RFP was unsuccessful, so the board looked at other options and selected two to move forward, Harris said.

“The first option approved by the Board of Directors is for the Regional Agency on Aging to provide, on a temporary basis, direct meal services by delivering meals to the homes of participants in the current program.” This interim solution will begin on July 1.

“This unusual step was taken to allay concerns among current participants and their families, and to ensure meals are provided on July 1. This temporary option will be in place until a stable, community-advised solution is implemented, ”he said.

“At the same time, the Regional Agency on Aging will begin to seek community support to develop local options for the continued delivery of meals to homes for the aged during the pandemic, and will begin developments to include the provision of meals at community sites in the future. Harris said.

“We believe the community will understand the need and work with this agency to find solutions,” he said.

“Throughout this interim period, new clients will be accepted for service by contacting the Regional Agency on Aging after July 1,” said Harris. “More information on the program’s services will be available on July 1, as many are under development.

“In closing, I want to thank our local community for their patience as we work together to find solutions that ensure the provision of essential and valuable meal service throughout Santa Barbara County.”

For more information, contact Joyce Lippman, AAA Director, 805-925-9554, 1-800-510-2020 or by email [email protected]