Council approves application to Kingsburg Healthcare District for $55,000 senior meal program funding

The Kingsburg City Council on April 2 approved staff moving forward with a grant application to the Kingsburg Healthcare District to request $55,000 to support the Kingsburg Senior Center hot‑meal program.

Community Services Director Adam Castaneda described the program as a continuation of a grant awarded in the prior cycle that covered food and supplies but not personnel. He said last year the city and partners received $55,000 from the Healthcare District and that the Larry Hillblom Foundation and Kingsburg Senior Inc. contributed roughly $20,000 toward the program; those partnerships reduced the city’s net cost compared with earlier county‑provided programs that cost about $98,000 annually.

Castaneda said the senior center now operates a hot and cold meal program five days a week, with three nutrition coordinators on site, and that the senior center has already secured its portion of local fundraising for the coming year. The staff recommendation to apply for $55,000 was presented to council; the council moved and approved the application.

Council discussion included questions about whether breakfast and other meal times would continue; Castaneda confirmed the hot and cold lunch and breakfast offerings are maintained through partnerships with Kingsburg Senior Inc. and the Healthcare District. A councilmember suggested exploring an evening dinner program in future cycles, which Castaneda said would require additional staff and operational hours.

The motion to submit the application passed by voice vote; no dollar appropriation by the city council was required at the meeting beyond moving forward with the application process.