Free meal program on hiatus, Local community’s involvement allow for temporary food distribution

EUREKA, Calif. (KIEM)-Free meal programs have been challenged with COVID-19 related shutdowns and Food for Peoples temporary closure of their food warehouse.

While the free program is on hiatus – local community groups and community involvement have allowed a temporary food distribution at the Betty Kwan Chin Day Center located at 133 7th Street in Eureka.

Staff from the Betty Chinn Day Center, Uplift Eureka, and EPD’s Community Safety and Enhancement Team or C-Set packed up lunches which included a drink, a snack, and a taco for example.

Food lunch bags will be distributed Monday through Friday between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Larry Alexander is a homeless outreach worker with Uplift Eureka.

“We all pretty much doing the same thing, trying to help out the homeless population and this is just an extension,” he said. “People need to eat, there are a lot of hungry people out here in the streets especially. Saturdays at free meals is open as well for bagged lunches.”

Participants are required to wear a mask and practice social distancing.