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Council approves $5,000 appropriation to sustain monthly food commodity boxes for homebound seniors
Summary
The council approved a $5,000 appropriation from reserves to support a monthly food commodity program run by the Calimesa senior center for about 25 homebound and otherwise vulnerable seniors; staff used Resolution 2025‑07 to authorize the adjustment to the fiscal year budget.
The Calimesa City Council on March 3 approved a one‑time appropriation of $5,000 to support a monthly food commodity program operated through the city senior center and Family Service Agency (FSA) partner, meant to serve roughly 25 homebound or severely mobility‑limited seniors.
Senior center manager Summer Wells told the council she has assembled a pantry and private donations that will sustain distribution for about 10 months at current volumes but requested the city contribution to stabilize the program this fiscal year. The commodity box is intended as a monthly pickup (second Thursday) and would include shelf‑stable staples, prepackaged meals, protein items and some perishables such as bread and milk provided by FSA partners.
Nut graf: Council acknowledged competing priorities and that the city is designing a community‑partnership grant program for future nonprofit and service requests. Several council members said they favored supporting seniors now but asked staff to route future requests through the new grant process once it is established.
Staff attached a draft resolution, Resolution 2025‑07, to amend the FY 2024‑25 budget and appropriate $5,000 from reserves to the community services account. A motion to adopt the resolution passed by unanimous voice vote. Council members discussed residency verification, program limits and coordination with Riverside County office on aging and nearby cities.
Ending: Wells said she will continue pursuing private donations, supermarket gift cards and grants; the council directed staff to record the appropriation and to include the senior center in outreach about the forthcoming community partnership program.
