San Mateo County has announced a program that reimburses local businesses who deliver three daily, nutritious meals to eligible residents who are quarantining at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Great Plates Delivered program, which was conceived at the state level and anticipates partial reimbursement from federal sources, aims to assist residents in need while also assisting struggling restaurants and local food providers. Participating local businesses will be reimbursed up to $66/day to provide three meals per day per eligible resident. The offer excludes food providers that are participating in another state or federal meal service program.
Residents eligible to receive meals must be 60 and older who live alone or with another eligible adult resident;who have COVID-19 or have been exposed to the virus; who are at-risk due to underlying conditions; who aren’t receiving additional assistance from other state or federal nutrition assistance programs; and who earn less than 600-percent of the federal poverty limit.
Businesses participating in this program must meet volume and nutritional standards, cultural needs and prioritize local jobs, worker retention, worker health and safety, and other guidelines.
Lisa Mancini, director of Aging and Adult Services, a division of San Mateo County Health, said the program will “provide food security for one of our most vulnerable populations and help provide essential economic stimulus to local businesses struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 crisis.”
“We appreciate this program being launched and will do everything we can to support its fullest execution,” Mancini said.
All registered food businesses in the county were sent an email participation survey, which can be accessed here in English, here in Chinese, and here in Spanish.
