The Southern California Gas Company has made a $25,000 grant to help local elderly residents who need food assistance.

The grant will be administered by American Legion Post 25 and the food purchased through El Sol Market will be funneled from the American Legion to the Imperial County Area Agency on Aging for distribution to those in need. The California National Guard will prepare food baskets with essentials and take part in delivering the food. An estimated 27 seniors will be served each day during the grant-funded program. Rosie Blankenship , Imperial County Public Administrator , whose department oversees the Area Agency on Aging , said the agency has information on seniors in need of food as the county has been providing for emergency food needs for several months during the COVID-19 pandemic and has already served nearly 1,700 seniors. Under the new grant Blankenship said her agency can reach out to the same seniors to determine their need while also reaching out to others in need.