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Pinal County Supervisor Pete Rios, left, makes a donation of $20,000 to the Hayden Senior Center which serves senior citizens from Superior to SaddleBrooke and all points in between.
On Tuesday, July 19, the Hayden Senior Center received a $20,000 donation from the Pinal County Board of Supervisors for the Meals on Wheels program. District 1 Supervisor Pete Rios presented the check to Hayden Senior Center Director Anita Hinojos. Hayden Mayor Bobby Smith and Council Members Enrique Lopez and Jeremy Garcia were in attendance.
“The Town of Hayden ran the program for many years and have been very supportive of us,” said Hinojos.
Supervisor Rios said that even though the Hayden Senior Center is located in Gila County, “we found that they serve a significant percentage of seniors in Pinal County.”
“Gila County and Pinal County have been sister counties for a long time and have worked together as members of Central Arizona Governments (CAG),” Rios added.
The Meals on Wheels program serves seniors in Hayden, Winkelman, Kearny, Superior, Dudleyville, Mammoth, San Manuel, Oracle and SaddleBrooke. The Pinal County Board of Supervisors has provided $40,000 for the program over the last two fiscal years. This donation is for the fiscal year 2016-2017. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to support the program.
“We will try and get it every fiscal year,” said Rios.
The Meals on Wheels program provides 600 to 700 congregate meals and 1,800 to 2,000 meals for homebound seniors per month. Congregate meals are those meals served at senior centers in the different communities. Supervisor Rios said that the homebound deliveries “serve a dual purpose.” Not only does it provide a nutritious meal but the people who make the delivery also check on the welfare of the seniors.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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