bay area restaurants

California’s ‘Great Plates Delivered’ Program Pays Local Bay Area Restaurants to Deliver Meals to Senior Residents

California introduced a wonderful new program to match struggling Bay Area restaurants with home bound seniors and Covid-19 patients. Great Plates Delivered, the first of its kind in the United States, supports restaurants who rehire or retain their workers by preparing and delivering 3 meals per day to residents in need. Eligible residents will receive 21 meals per week.

Governor Newsom negotiated this agreement in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and state and local governments. FEMA covers 75% of the cost and California will cover the remaining costs. Restaurants will be paid a flat-rate as follows: $16 for breakfasts, $17 for lunches and up to $28 for dinners.

“This partnership will allow … restaurants to start rehiring people or keep people currently employed and start preparing meals, three meals a day, seven days a week, and have those meals delivered to our seniors all throughout the state of California,” Gov. Newsom said.

This creative plan will support the restaurant industry, workers and residents in need. It will also support local governments who serve senior citizens and are struggling financially due to business tax shortfalls.

The governor’s stated intent is to help independent restaurants get up and running again. “This partnership will allow … restaurants to start rehiring people or keep people currently employed and start preparing meals, three meals a day, seven days a week, and have those meals delivered to our seniors all throughout the state of California,” Gov. Newsom said.

Additionally, California will focus its buying power on local growers in order to assure nutritious meals are being provided. The program will be locally managed and will connect local farms with local restaurants. The state mandates specific nutritional guidelines that restaurants will have to adhere to in order to participate in the program (i.e. low sodium).

Qualifying residents will include those over 65 and those 60-64 defined as high-risk by the CDC such as those diagnosed with Covid-19, exposed to the virus or those who have an underlying condition. Individuals must live alone, or with another program-eligible adult, and must not be receiving other forms of government nutrition assistance.

For general information, check out The Great Plates Delivered program through the state’s website. Additional information is provided as follows:

General guidance on the The Great Plates Delivered program.

For restaurants that are interested in participating, complete the interest form found here.

For the The Great Plates Delivered FAQ for restaurants, check out specific information here.

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