MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – With the increased health risks associated with the COVID-19 virus, the Middletown Senior Center has implemented new procedures.

It’s taking many steps to ensure the safety and protection of seniors, reduce health risks and maintain the social distancing recommendations of public health officials.

“We are here to help and together, we will get through this challenging time as a community,” the center said in a statement.

Safety procedures the center has implemented include the following:

Drive through meal pickup

Meals are prepared by the same individuals that are delivering them to seniors who are picking up. This significantly reduces the number of individuals handling the meals, reducing potential exposure and health risks.

Meals are prepared daily, Monday through Friday, to provide fresh and healthy options for seniors.

Center staff looks forward to seeing seniors as they pick up their meals to check in with them and ensure that the center is meeting the seniors’ needs.

Home deliveries

Drivers are equipped with hand sanitizer, masks and gloves in each vehicle. Drivers will leave meals on the doorstep, ring the doorbell and maintain a minimum of the 6-foot recommended distance from our seniors.

Drivers will wait for meals to be picked up off of the doorstep, providing them the opportunity for visual welfare checks.

Meals are prepared in the center’s kitchen daily, Monday through Friday, and are available to be picked up at the center, 21256 Washington St.,or delivered to seniors’ homes. Please call 707-987-3113 before 10 a.m. for pickup at noon or 12:20 p.m.

Meals delivered are packaged hot and placed in a hot box with heat stones, cold portions of meals are placed in coolers with cold packs. Meals are promptly packaged and sent out at 11 a.m.

The center’s drivers check the temperature of cold and hot food at the start of delivery and when the last meal is delivered.

If you have special needs or require additional accommodations, please contact the center at 707-987-3113.