The Crosswoods Community Center, where the Meals on Wheels program is contracted to take place.

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - A collaborative multi-agency effort, in process since late fall, between the non-profit Meals on Wheels based in Sacramento, the City of Citrus Heights, and the board of directors of the Sunrise Recreation and Parks District (SRPD) is expected to return a popular hot-meal program for seniors in Citrus Heights back to the city in early February after a multi-year absence.

“A one-year contract agreement has been signed by board members of the SRPD and Meals on Wheels to resume the program at the Crosswoods Community Center at 6742 Auburn Blvd.,” said Kevin Huntzinger, SRPD district administrator.

Kevin Huntzinger, district administrator, Sunrise Recreation and Parks District.

The hot-meal program for seniors was offered by Meals on Wheels at Rusch Park and was suspended during the pandemic. Meals will be offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with serving hours and operational details to be finalized soon, Huntzinger said.

“We’ve been listening to seniors in Citrus Heights who said they very much would like to see the (All-Seasons Café) meal program resume,” Citrus Heights City Manager Ash Feeney said in an earlier interview.

The Crosswoods Center is located at the intersection of Auburn and Van Maren, just behind the Sylvan Oaks Library. The popular hot-meal program, sponsored by Meals on Wheels, gave Citrus Heights seniors a valuable place to meet and socialize.

The inside of the Crosswoods Community Center.

“The shared goal between all parties, including the city of Citrus Heights, SRPD and Meals on Wheels, had been to launch the Citrus Heights All Seasons Café as soon as possible,” Feeney said.

That goal has now been realized, Huntzinger said.

A formal public announcement of an opening date by all parties is pending the approval of a final physical inspection of the premises, she said. Required state health and safety operating permits have been approved, he said.

“We’ll be starting with 20 meals per day on three days a week to start at the Crossroads facility,” said Krystal Sharpnack, registered dietician and congregate manager for Meals on Wheels in Sacramento.

Since the meal program for seniors was suspended several years ago due to the pandemic, and restarts in a different location in Citrus Heights, the initial three-day hot-meal program at Crossroads will allow Meals on Wheels to fine tune the program before fulfilling its goal to offer a Monday through Friday meals program, she said.

“In time, we should be serving up to 20 meals each day and up to 60 per week from this facility,” she said.

Sharpnack said Meals on Wheels is in the process of finalizing initial funding for the program from the state Agency on Aging/Area 4 which is needed to start the program.

“We (Meals on Wheels) haven’t set an official resumption date,” she said. Official state operating permits have been issued and a required physical inspection of the premises by Sacramento Metro Fire should be completed this week, she said.

An official public announcement between Meals on Wheels, the City of Citrus Heights and the Sunrise Recreation and Parks District concerning the launch of the program at Crossroads is pending, she said.

A Meals on Wheels All-Seasons Café is typically an in-person, restaurant-style space, with each hot lunch hosting typically 20-90 seniors per meal at larger sites.

The two nearest Meals on Wheels café sites are located at the Mission Oaks Community Center at 4701 Gibbons Dr. in Carmichael, and in the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Park District, 810 Oak Ln., in Rio Linda.

Huntzinger gave a tour of the Crossroads Center facility in Citrus Heights which includes inside restrooms and office space for Meals on Wheels personnel.

“We will be working closely with Meals on Wheels to help them set up the kitchen and bring in additional equipment, including a refrigerator which may be needed,” he said. SRPD will provide tables and chairs and overall operations support.

Late this fall, Huntzinger and Jennifer Massello and Krystal Sharpnack of Meals on Wheels toured two sites in Citrus Heights: the Rusch Park Community Room where the meals program had been held, and the Crosswoods Community Center for likely consideration.

The Crosswoods Community Center seats 60 and has been used for small gatherings including weddings, birthday parties and meetings.

“We’re also looking to start other SRPD social programs for seniors at the Crossroads Community Center once the Meals on Wheels Café gets going,” Huntzinger said.

An initial meeting between a team of city officials which was led by Citrus Heights City Manager Ash Feeney and the Sunrise Recreation and Parks District (SRPD) to consider the matter took place on November 9th.

Nicole Piva, Sunrise Park and Recreation District (SPRD) district administrator Kevin Huntzinger, and Jennifer Massello and Krystal Sharpnack with Meals on Wheels toured two sites, the Rusch Park Community Room and the Crosswoods Community Center behind Sylvan Oaks Library, for consideration. Piva serves as the city’s housing and human services program coordinator.

Meals on Wheels, which currently serves seniors 60+ years of age, seeks to keep seniors in their homes and communities longer by providing nutritious meals, safety net services, social contact, community resource information and more.

Home-delivered meals are also available to seniors aged 60+ who are homebound due to illness or recovery, disability, or other causes which may prevent them from leaving their homes. Eligible participants may receive either hot, home-delivered meals every weekday or a box of five frozen meals once a week. 

A Citrus Heights city web page features helpful information on senior resources and local programs at: www.citrusheights.net/486/Senior-Resources.

Seniors who are interested in Meals on Wheels’ ongoing home-delivered meal program can call (916) 444-9533 for more information.

The Crosswoods Community Center, with wild turkeys.