Benevilla, through their partnership with the City of Surprise Human Services and Community Vitality Department is excited to be offering their Home Delivered Meals Program once again. Started July 13th, this program is specifically serving area residents who previously attended the Surprise Senior Center currently closed due the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is funded by the CARES Act through the City of Surprise.
Our senior population is the most vulnerable right now to Coronavirus and it has become increasingly important seniors practice self-isolation and stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the risk of complications from COVID-19 increases with age, family members and friends are limiting their visits to older contacts. Seniors have a diminished support system and can easily find themselves trapped in social isolation. It has become increasingly difficult for them to get nutritious meals. But the City of Surprise and Benevilla are here to help with their Home Deliver Meal Program!
While all other City of Surprise Senior Center programming and events are suspended, meals will continue to be served via pick-up and by home delivery from Birt’s Bistro at Benevilla. Patrons can receive one hot meal a day cooked by Birt’s Bistro located on the Benevilla Surprise campus and some patrons can also receive one weekend meal, with their Friday delivery. The weekend meal is a cold meal. The entire menu and all meals are all reviewed and approved by a registered dietitian.
The meals are delivered by Benevilla staff, volunteers, and members of the Benevilla Helping Partners (Group Supported Employment) GSE Program, alongside a Benevilla Job Coach. These members are adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are part of this special program and provided with employment skills, training, and job opportunities. The GSE members have a trained staff with them during the meal delivery to help them learn the skills they need to continue to work.
In the 1st week, 69 meals were delivered on two routes with 5 to 7 patrons per route. With the support and partnership between Benevilla and the City of Surprise, this program is expected to serve over 50 senior community members with hot, nutritious meals and much needed wellness checks from our friendly volunteers and GSE staff members.