Area Agency on Aging implemented a senior meal program in Imperial County to help senior citizens during the pandemic.

In addition to a senior meal program, AAA also implemented a relief bag and food box delivery program with SoCal Gas to help locals during the pandemic.

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - This included the help of the National guard, delivering PPE, hand sanitizer and water to senior citizens. We spoke with Brownies Diner and ARC, they tell us it was special for them to be able to take part in the senior meal program. One senior citizen says he couldn't agree more.

“It was like a miracle almost, being brought to me every day on time very friendly people they were friendly and smiled, it was great, it was a blessing,” Charles Alexander said.

Charles Alexander, just one of many seniors in the Imperial Valley, has been living in Brawley for 60 years. Living alone, he has hobby and passion for cars. He also has a feeling of gratitude toward Brownies Diner, as he was one of many senior citizens who had food delivered to his front door steps.  

The pandemic shattering many parts of daily routine, for senior citizens, it became a challenge for them to get food. That’s when Imperial Valley’s AAA engaged with locals to help bring what senior citizens called a miracle.

“They’re happy to see someone at their doors, they were very grateful, I got to know many of them personally and it was a great experience for all of us,” Alex King, Program Director for ARC said.

King is the program director for ARC, an agency that works with disabled adults. They were involved heavily with delivering food to senior citizens, about 304 senior citizens were provided with meals daily. The National Guard was also in imperial county helping deliver food boxes. Local restaurants stepping in as well.

Juanita and Gabriel Rebollar are the owners of Brownies Diner, it's been around for 27 years in Brawley. They say this was especially challenging but made for a heart warming interaction with senior citizens.

“So my husband goes, you know what it’s 2 weeks we are helping our community lets do it," Rebollar said.

El Centro, Imperial, Holtville, and Heber all had food delivered to their senior citizens, at Brownies Diner in Brawley, they successfully delivered to about a hundred and eighty seniors. Senior citizens say that love and care they received is something they will forever cherish.