The 'free meal' delivery which was supposed to be good news to seniors in California a couple of days ago turned out to be a disappointment to some. A Sacramento senior, 74-year-old Robert Sandles was dissatisfied to find what he described as an "incomplete meal" on his doorstep.

The said meal was a delivery from the Great Plates Program, a business-community, and federally-financed partnership to deliver food to seniors of Sacramento.

In an local report, Sandles said, the salad included in the meal he found on his doorstep "was like a half handful for lunch." He also added he was given "another thing of rice," although no sauce was available to go with the meal.

700 People Receiving Free Meals

Sandles is among the 750 people who receive free meals prepared at around 30 different restaurants within Sacramento. Basically, the Great Plates Program, "which rolled out two weeks ago" lets business owners prepare $60 worth of meal kit for every person.

This means that businesses can generate an income of up to $9,000 if they take part three days each week. The income can even be higher, amounting to up to 12,000 if these business owners would prepare the same meal four days each week.

The city will get a 75-percent reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA to pay owners of the food businesses 50 percent upfront to help them with the cash flow. However, the program according to Sandles, "Has had some hiccups."

Sandles also said he is not a complainer. He added, he is thankful for what he and all the other beneficiaries of the program are getting. However, he continued, he knows "they can do better."

Other Elderly Individuals and Recipients Disappointed, too

Sandles, according to the a report, is not the only one disappointed in the program. More pictures reportedly from the program's recipients circulated on social media showing what they too, described as "incomplete meals."

Certainly, the Great Plates Program is great, Sandles said, although it "needs more oversight." He added that he is "eternally grateful" for what the program provides especially that for him, as a single person who lives by himself, the free meals are quite helpful.

The Sacramento senior said, through what he shared, all the people involved in the project would "strive to provide the best they can."

A chef in Sacramento, Patrick Mulvaney, who helped in jumpstarting the now-statewide initiative as a response to the pandemic agreed with Sandles.

He said, in the last several months, local restaurants have provided over 40,000 meal packs to the needy in Sacramento. Also according to the report, the chef said, there is room for improvement.

He also apologized for the complaints and disappointments like that of Sandles and committed that they, who are involved in the project are working to make the Great Plates Program better.

As for Sandles, despite the program's shortcomings, he said he will continue to get the free meals and is hoping they improve as he cannot risk contracting the virus.

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