An $89,000 from the state will help the Imperial County Area Agency on Aging feed local seniors.

The grant is from the California COVID-19 Senior Nutrition Funding program. The money will allow the local agency to feed more older adults. The county has contracted with Brownies Diner in Brawley and Rosa's Plane Food in Calexico to provide meals daily to supplement the existing nutrition program contracted through Catholic Charities. Under the program , Brownies will supply more than 80 hot meals daily for North End seniors while Rosa's will provide more than 60 meals Monday through Friday in the Calexico area. Rosa's will provide frozen meals on Saturday and Sunday. The restaurants will also provide delivery of the meals. 

The county has also obtained $44,850 from the state through the Homeless Emergency Assistance program and an additional $33,800 through the Imperial Valley Continuum of Care. The funds will be used by the county Public Administrator /Area Agency on Aging to work with local hotels to shelter homeless residents 55 and older who meet certain criteria established  under guidelines related to the coronavirus pandemic. The guidelines include whether they have been infected with COVID-19 , are over 65 with underlying health issues that put them at risk , have been exposed to the virus or face living conditions that put them at risk. According to Imperial County Public Administrator Rosie Blankenship , to date , her department has placed 26 seniors at local hotels. Separate funding to the county's Workforce Development Board is helping to provide housing to younger homeless individuals.