Even COVID-19 can鈥檛 overcome compassion. Furloughed 澳门六合彩开奖结果2023 dining and catering staff have shown care amidst the pandemic by preparing meals for 180 homebound seniors in the local region who otherwise couldn鈥檛 leave home to purchase food. The ongoing program, which started in November, is a partnership between union UNITE HERE Local 11, the Hospitality Training Academy and 澳门六合彩开奖结果2023.
This has been a mutual provision: Senior citizens receive breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, and furloughed staff are able to work on a limited basis and be paid their regular wages.
Staff cook and package food and prepare the meals for delivery via taxi or drivers as arranged by the Hospitality Training Academy. Jose Martinez Jimenez, general manager of dining services, says a total of 22 staff members are working the county meal program, 16 dining staff and six dining managers.
Safety has been a paramount priority. Returning dining staff work in tightly controlled 鈥渂ubbles鈥 of two teams, are regularly tested for COVID-19, and follow strict health and safety guidelines and protocols, according to Robert Robinson, assistant vice president of facilities and campus services.
All of this effort has yielded much fruit. As of mid-January, more than 20,000 meals have been served. And these aren鈥檛 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches鈥攖he cyclical menu includes plant-based meals such as mushroom ropa vieja, al pastor tofu with grilled pineapple, miso glazed buckwheat soba noodles and other Sagehen favorites.
Martinez, Robinson, Brenda Rushforth, assistant vice president of human resources and chief human resources officer, and Carol Saldivar, senior human resources business partner, made this partnership with the union and training academy possible.
Catering chef Benigno Avina treasures this opportunity to use his talent, and he calls it one of his greatest experiences.
鈥淚鈥檓 so happy to be working in this program, helping people that really need help in these extraordinary times.鈥