Raley’s will have two unique Senior Essentials Bags available for purchase at a discounted price, which can be picked up daily curbside or in-store.
For $20, bags that include a mix of fresh items and pantry staples like oatmeal, soup, potatoes, fruit, sausage and more can be purchased. For $35, at-risk community members can grab bags that contain fresh, ready-to-eat meals.
Several other grocery stores have designated special hours for senior and other at-risk community members to shop away from the general public, including Target (8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays), Dollar General (first hour), Safeway (6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays), Walmart (6 a.m. to 7 a.m. Tuesdays starting March 24) and Save Mart and FoodMaxx (6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays).
Local senior and community centers will also serve as distribution sites for frozen meals packs, meant to replace the senior congregate lunch programs that were closed.
Starting Monday, seniors older than 60 can visit one of these distribution points and register to pick up a five-pack box of Sun Meadow frozen meals. Each box contains five frozen entrees, milk, juice or fruit cup and a mini loaf of bread. Those who are interested should call the Senior Information Line to reserve meals. Supplies will be limited in the first week but the Area Agency on Aging plans to order additional meals to meet growing demand.
Meal Distribution schedule and sites will be as follows:
Monday: Riverbank Community Center & Grayson United Community Center
Tuesday: Oakdale Senior Center and Mancini Hall (Modesto)
Wednesday: Modesto Senior Center and Hughson Community Center
Thursday: Patterson Senior Center
Friday: Veterans Center (our office at 3500 Coffee Rd Modesto)
United Samaritan Foundation USF - Turlock (upon request).
