The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center Bella Vida Meals on Wheels program received a donation Friday from Rep. George Whitesides, D-Agua Dulce, to support its ongoing efforts in providing hot meals to homebound seniors.
Whitesides donated the salary he accrued during the 43-day government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1 and ended Nov. 12, and wanted to show his appreciation to the local Meals on Wheels program that helps feed 500 seniors daily in the SCV and 600 across the Antelope Valley. The donation was several thousand dollars.
“We’re all just so grateful for the amazing work that the Senior Center does for seniors in our community, and the Meals on Wheels Program, particularly during the holidays, is so important. We felt that it was the best possible place to put some resources as we head into the holiday season,” Whitesides said.
Aside from delivering meals to homebound seniors, the facility also feeds those who visit on a daily basis. “We’re running very very short this year,” said Kevin MacDonald, the Senior Center’s CEO.
“Every little bit helps. Our funding for the meals programs is partly from the federal government, partly from the state, little bit from the county as well. We try to package that together and try to serve everybody we can,” he added. “The need is out there.”
The Senior Center is in the midst of its annual appeal campaign, which is a major source of revenue for all programs and services, MacDonald added, and in order to break even the organization must raise $900,000.
“We’re just appreciative of the congressman for making this happen for us. We rely on Congress a lot. He’s been very supportive since he came into office. We’re going to continue to work and try to get more funding down to the people who need it the most, and we both are committed to that,” MacDonald said.
Before Whitesides headed to visit seniors in the community and personally deliver some meals, he also thanked those who continued to be of service in the midst of the shutdown.
“Many of them are in our community, up at Edwards Air Force Base, or air traffic controllers, other folks. I felt it wasn’t right for me to take a salary while they were working unpaid on essential services for our community. And so we philosophically felt that it was important to give that money back into the community.”
