OUR HISTORY
The Rotary Club of Palo Alto founded and incorporated La Comida in 1972 as the first lunch program for older adults in the county. Two years later, we received a federal grant through the Older Americans Act to grow our operations. We became the first congregate senior nutrition program in Santa Clara County to manage its program under the auspices of the Council on Aging. We served our first meals in the Parish Hall at the All Saints Church at the corner of Hamilton and Waverley Avenues, then federal and Rotary Club of Palo Alto funds allowed us to outfit the kitchen and dining room at the Avenidas Senior Center. Today, we serve tens of thousands of weekday lunches each year at Palo Alto’s Stevenson House and in Downtown Palo Alto at the First United Methodist Church.
MISSION
La Comida de California is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to serving Palo Alto area seniors a delicious, warm, sit-down meal each weekday; providing a nurturing environment in which they can commune and build friendships; and contributing to their inclusion and belonging. La Comida is where friends and food meet.
VISION
Our vision is to elevate awareness of the importance of seniors in Palo Alto by connecting people of all ages in a positive and visible way. We will do this by continuing to provide healthy, sit-down meals each weekday. Over time, we will expand to serve more seniors in more locations while building alliances with people and programs that further our mission. We will also engage and energize Palo Alto residents to support and volunteer for senior needs, causes, and projects.
STAFF
Mary Ruth Batchelder
Mary Ruth started learning to cook at age 13 and has been working in the food industry since attending Cal Poly’s Dietetics and Food Administration program. She has been La Comida’s Site Manager since December 2002.
shyla duarte
Shyla joined the La Comida team in October 2024, managing our Downtown site at First United Methodist Church. Shyla has quickly won the hearts of our Downtwn clientele with her sparkling personality and can do attitude.
La Comida’s Culinary Team
Juan Carlos Barrios, Bernabe Tellez, Alejandro Pena, Felix Ortiz and Chef Candelario Samaniegoz make up our super kitchen staff preparing 250 to 300 meals 250 day a year!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
