Millbrae council approves fee waiver and $10,000 grant to keep senior lunch program five days a week

The Millbrae City Council on July 22 received a semiannual report from Self Help for the Elderly and approved a rental-fee waiver of $61,127.12 plus a one-year funding allocation of $10,000 to support the nonprofit’s congregate meal program in Millbrae. The motion, moved by Councilmember Riley and seconded by Councilmember Nguyen, passed 5–0.

Hannah Moran, Millbrae’s recreation director, introduced Karen Lam, director of nutrition and senior centers for Self Help for the Elderly. Lam said the program provides hot congregate meals five days per week, home-delivered meals to North County residents, wellness classes and social activities. For January–June 2025 Self Help reported serving 5,473 meals overall; of those, staff said 3,483 meals were served to Millbrae residents. Lam said daily congregate participation averages roughly 45 people, though attendance fluctuates between about 40 and 70 depending on activities and special events.

Lam told the council the program is contracted for 5,500 meals annually but that higher daily turnout has led the center to “overserve” by about 730 meals through June. She said Self Help requests donations on a voluntary basis (the program solicits an optional $3 donation per meal) but does not deny service when donors cannot pay.

Councilmembers praised the program’s social benefits for seniors and asked clarifying questions about weekday room usage, setup and cleanup responsibilities, and residency of participants. Moran said Self Help typically handles setup and cleanup and has relocated programming to the library on days the David J. Chakoutti Community Room is needed for other rentals. Moran also said the program is weighted toward Millbrae residents — roughly two-thirds of meals served went to city residents — but that Self Help serves neighboring San Mateo County residents as part of county-funded programs.

City staff recommended and the council approved the one-year fee waiver and $10,000 funding to continue the five-day-a-week lunch program through June 30, 2026. The council agreed to the motion after a brief public comment period; speaker Mary Ann Koff supported the program but urged Self Help to pursue contributions from neighboring cities that also receive services.

Why it matters: The program provides daily nutrition, social contact and health workshops to older residents and is heavily used. The city funding and waiver reduce operating costs for the nonprofit and aim to preserve daily congregate lunches that the council described as central to senior well-being in Millbrae.

Next steps: The waiver and funding cover July 2025–June 2026. Staff will monitor utilization and continue to coordinate scheduling and facility use with Self Help to minimize conflicts with other rentals.