Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Senior Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents and program workers say senior meal sites sometimes run short of lunches
Summary
Multiple public commenters told the Riverside council that senior meal programs at community centers occasionally run out of lunches, leaving seniors, veterans and disabled residents without the promised hot meals; they urged city follow‑up and clearer donation/contract channels.
During public comment June 17, Aurora Chávez and Ruben Shaw described repeated shortages in the senior meal program and urged the city to address what they characterized as an ongoing operational problem.
Chávez said she observed incidents where the lunch service ran short and that in one recent instance eight meals were missing; she emphasized the harm of promising a meal to an older person and then turning them away. "No es el número de personas que fueron denegados, es el hecho de que están siendo denegados de comida," she said.
Ruben Shaw, who works in a county senior lunch program and said his site serves up to 120 people on some days, described occasional shortfalls of 10–15 meals and questioned whether kitchen production or distribution from the contractor (SEDECO) was the source of the problem. He asked the city to investigate whether the shortfalls stem from preparation, distribution, or contractor issues.
Chávez also asked how donations are processed and whether donated funds go directly to the city or to SEDECO; she requested contact from parks and recreation staff to explain donation routing.
Councilmembers and staff did not adopt a formal action at the meeting but acknowledged the concerns and requested follow‑up through city staff so residents and volunteers can coordinate with program administrators.
