St. Martin de Porres Senior Center in Alexandria closed its doors
March 18 in response to COVID-19, but not before providing shelf-stable meal
boxes to clients to take home. Over the course of three days, the Catholic
Charities-run program distributed six to nine meals’ worth of non-perishables to
participants while the City of Alexandria prepares to increase its Meals on
Wheels program for homebound seniors.
St. Martin’s, in partnership with the City of Alexandria, provides
a variety of activities, field trips and meals for senior citizens, and
typically serves 55-60 clients a day. In the last few days before the center
closed, the numbers dropped as participants voluntarily stayed home, according
to Michael Horne, director of clinical services for diocesan Catholic
Charities.
Staff at the center will be available by phone and proactively
calling the most vulnerable participants to check in.
“Our hope is that we’ll touch base with everyone every couple of
days,” said Horne. “And that they can call us as well if they need something.”
© Arlington Catholic Herald 2020