MIDDLETOWN >> Seven local senior centers and community food banks were on hand at the Calpine Geothermal Visitors Center to receive a donation of locally raised meat purchased by Calpine Corporation at this year’s Junior Livestock Auction at the Lake County Fair.
In support of Lake County area youth 4H and FFA programs, Calpine participates each year in the Fair’s Junior Livestock Auction, donating the purchases to Lake County Meals on Wheels programs, Senior Centers, Food Banks and fundraising events in need.
“Your donation of meat for use in our dining room and Meals on Wheels programs has been greatly appreciated,” said Lori Tourville, Food Service Director for Middletown Senior Center. “We supply approximately 18,000 meals per year. We need to raise $30,000 to augment the money donated to us through grants and donations. Calpine’s assistance in the past has supplied meat for approximately 800 meals. This helps relieve the pressure of additional outside fundraising.”
Joyce Overton, Food Service Director for Clearlake Highland Senior Center says the donation makes a difference.
“Calpine donated approximately $5,000 worth of meat last year to our Center,” she observed. “We served over 29,000 meals this past year and the donation we received from Calpine helps provide over 550 meals for seniors that were unable to purchase a meal. The Senior Center depends on donations from our community to help supplement the funding for our program and greatly appreciates Calpine for their generous donation.”
As a supporter of the Lake County Junior Livestock Auction, Calpine purchased more than 6,000 pounds of locally grown meat from Lake County youth this year alone for this donation.
“In 2016, the food donation from Calpine provided enough excellent protein for six teenagers for most of the school year,” said Bill McDougall, Executive Director for Lake County Pride Foundation, a local organization that runs a Safe House that offers shelter to homeless teens. “The donation has made a huge impact on the lives of these youth as meat is very expensive and not always purchased otherwise.”
For more information, about Calpine, visit www.calpine.com or www.geysers.com.
