June 26, 2020
By: Hillsborough Press, Staff Report
TAMPA Fla. – Hillsborough County’s most vulnerable residents are benefiting from a partnership born of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Silver Platter program was recently launched with a focus on assisting seniors who live alone in areas where restaurants are scarce, and who are sheltering in place to avoid potential exposure to COVID-19.
Silver Platter provides additional nutrition to seniors by delivering hot prepared evening meals to the homes of seniors enrolled in Aging Services‘ home-delivered meals program. The County’s staff dietician works with the chef at partner restaurants and food trucks to ensure menu items meet the state dietary guidelines and any special needs of clients.
Along with serving hot dinners to seniors, Silver Platter is designed to employ local restaurants and food trucks that have struggled during the pandemic. Silver Platter started with 160 clients in the Ruskin and Wimauma areas and has since expanded to reach more clients throughout the county.
The program was initiated and supported by state agencies, including the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. Aging Services uses funding from the Families First Act and CARES Act to support Silver Platter. Hillsborough County residents age 60 or older in need of food assistance can call (813) 272-5250.