OCEANSIDE–Serving Seniors will celebrate the one-year anniversary of providing congregate meal services to low-income seniors at the Oceanside Senior Citizens Center.
To mark the occasion, the organization will host a special lunch service January 23 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.with City of Oceanside officials, Serving Seniors CEO Paul Downey and volunteers on January 23.
Oceanside Senior Citizens Center is one of 11 congregate meal sites served by the nonprofit across San Diego. Since it began meal services at the location one year ago, Serving Seniors has provided 45,315 nutritious meals to 384 unduplicated Oceanside seniors, including 36,056 congregate meals at the center and 9,259 home-delivered meals to homebound seniors. Meals provide one-third of seniors’ nutrition requirements while accommodating dietary needs including low-sodium and low-fat diets. In addition to meeting nutritional needs, the congregate meal program offers clients an opportunity to socialize and connect with like-minded seniors.
Serving Seniors team members and City of Oceanside officials will discuss how the program has impacted the community over the past year and share goals for 2020.
The event will take place at the Oceanside Senior Citizens Center, 455 Country Club Lane in Oceanside.
In 2019, Serving Seniors’ clients reported living on a medium income of $930, with 80 percent living below the Federal Poverty Level. Since 1970, Serving Seniors has been dedicated to helping seniors struggling with poverty and hunger. The number of food insecure seniors is at critical levels in San Diego and loneliness and isolation can have serious consequences for seniors’ physical and mental health. Good nutrition is integral to reducing the overall cost of healthcare. Serving Seniors is a safety net for older adults, serving nearly 600,000 meals annually and providing supportive services that keep seniors healthy and independent.
