Taxpayers will pay restaurants to feed seniors in California

The state is launching a first-in-the-nation meal delivery program, a partnership to make wellness check-in calls, and the expansion of Friendship Line California to help combat social isolation.

Governor newsom is also promising to help keep seniors in the state fed -- action news now reporter ana torrea is live in redding.

Ana how will this work and will it also be a boost for local restaurants?

Governor gavin newsom unveiled this program and called it the first in the country.

And it works by paying restaurants to prepare and deliver meals for isolating seniors.

Trt:09 ashley jones owner of fusion lounge restaurant i think that's a great idea.

Anyway for restaurants that are open to be able to help out in their community in any way that they can i think is a great idea.

The program reaches out to local restaurants to help prepare 3 meals day for delivery to seniors who are home and in self- isolation.

Take so* trt:11 linda haley lives in redding i think that would be an excellent program to help them out and to help the restaurants and more employees, and all the way around, a nice circle of events.

Ana stand u* ((trying something different here to make a little bit more interactive that's why its a bit longer than normal--sorry!

Lol)) trt:26 ana torrea @atorreanews this program is for older adults who are ineligible for other nutrition programs. so who qualifies for this?

Governor newsom said this is for people who are 65 years old and older.

Who are at high- risk exposure to the virus, they have been exposed to coronavirus, they have a compromised immune system, or their economics are below 600% of federal poverty.

Restaurant owners, i spoke to tell me: that once shasta county rolls out the details for the area ready to step up to the plate.

Take so* trt:07 ashley jones owner of fusion lounge restaurant once the details are all out and we have more information about it, i think that 's a great idea and its something we would look into the new initiative would also help restaurants struggling to keep their doors open during the pandemic& take so* trt:07 linda haley lives in redding i think they wouldnt have to lay as many people off, there's a chance it would give people more opportunities to work by boosting business&.

Take so* trt:06 ashley jones owner of fusion lounge restaurant anyway we can bring more of our team back on and give them more hours would be great and bringing back more workers and employees to help out.

And last week: the governor also launched the "social bridging