Yorba Linda accepts federal funds to provide breakfasts, lunches at Community Center

 

Yorba Linda's City Council has approved using federal funds apportioned to the city by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to pay for the second-round of a “meal gap” program to benefit residents dealing with food insecurity and local restaurants seeking more revenue.

The funds, totaling $216,000, come from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 signed on March 11 by President Joe Biden after party-line approvals on 50-49 Senate and 220-211 House of Representatives votes.

This second-round funding provides breakfast and lunch meals each weekday at the Community Center through Nov. 30 or until funds run out. Meals can be eaten in the center's Imperial Room or taken home. Breakfast is 8:30-9:30 a.m.; lunch is 11 a.m.-noon.

City Manager Mark Pulone told council members that the first-round program was “wildly successful” at a June 23 meeting before council's 4-0 approval for second-round funding.

The $100,000 first-round provided lunches on Mondays and Thursdays, with 15 local restaurants providing 7,642 boxed meals to drive-thru recipients. The drive-thru operation has been eliminated this time because the parking lot is now being used for other center activities.

Parks and Recreation Director Mike Kudron told council members that the second-round could draw more residents and restaurant participation because breakfast and lunch are offered Monday through Friday.

Participating restaurants must have a valid city business license and an Orange County Health Care Agency permit and meet all agency requirements for serving off-site meals.

The restaurants must be able to serve 100-140 meals on scheduled distribution days, provide staffing to distribute the meals and include a main course and sides at a fixed rate of less than $20 per meal. Reimbursements can include taxes, but not gratuities or service fees.

Included in the program's allowable expenses will be replacement of the center's make-up air system for $10,000 and four new warming ovens for a total $12,000.

“The goal of the program is to help facilitate compliance with COVID-19-related public health guidelines, specifically food delivery to vulnerable populations, such as seniors,” Kudron told council members in a report at the June 23 session.

Just before council's vote to approve the second-round, Mayor Peggy Huang said, “This is a great program” that “helps our restaurants,” adding she “liked to see that we have the money for it.”

Two other city food programs include a twice-a-month grocery distribution and a weekday senior lunch program. Information on the latter, which has changed because of pandemic restrictions, is available at 714-961-7181.

The grocery program distributes stable and perishable items on the first and third Thursdays of the month in the center's Imperial Room from 8:30-9:30 a.m. The program is intended for low-income households, but no ID or income verification is required.