Menlo Park Senior Center

Overview

The City of Menlo Park's Library and Community Services facilities will be closed on Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Click here to view a list of places to get help with groceries, hot meals, and other food resources in Menlo Park and San Mateo County.

Menlo Park Senior Center is free and serves active older adults ages 60+ years. The senior center operates Monday to Friday, morning to lunchtime at the Belle Haven Community Campus at 100 Terminal Ave. Located together with a public library, fitness center, swimming pool, walking track, makerspace and gymnasium, this beautiful center is open to all older adult community members who want to enjoy delicious lunch, attend classes, play games, and enjoy life in a safe, supportive, beautiful setting.

A diverse range of services include:

Nutritionally balanced meals
Health, recreational, social, cultural and educational programs
Opportunities for socializing and fun
Door-to-door local transportation services.

Check out the lunch menu! Freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced meals are paired with health, recreation, dance, creative arts, educational programs, and opportunities for conversation and fun! Suggested donation is $2.50. Lunch is served Monday through Friday at noon.

Lunch menu Transportation Contact us

News and updates

Where to get help with groceries, hot meals, and other food assistance

See a list of places to get help with groceries, hot meals, and other food resources in Menlo Park and San Mateo County.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month

The City of Menlo Park is participating in National Bullying Prevention Month. This month, we'll be sharing information about bullying and how community service programs can help victims of bullying minimize the social isolation and harm to self-esteem that bullying can cause.

Check it out! Menlo Park Seed Lending Library

Located at the Menlo Park Library and Belle Haven Library, the Menlo Park Seed Lending Library provides access to heritage seeds, gardening workshops, education and resources. Its purpose is to encourage residents to grow food and foster community resilience, self-reliance and a culture of sharing.

Event recap: Senior center cookie bake!

Menlo Park Senior Center visitors had a great time baking flourless peanut butter cookies, lemon cookies, and sugar cookies on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025

National Preparedness Month – Review the key steps for emergencies

Throughout National Preparedness Month, we have provided critical information and resources to address emergencies. The five key steps include creating a plan, assembling an emergency kit, getting trained, signing up for emergency alerts and engaging your community.

National Preparedness Month: Be prepared for evacuations

September is National Preparedness Month! Take time with your family to review your emergency plans, gather supplies and ensure you’re ready for wildfires, floods, earthquakes and other disasters. Being prepared today can make all the difference tomorrow.

September is National Disaster Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and encouraging individuals, families, businesses and communities to take steps toward emergency and disaster preparedness. Taking proactive steps, such as developing a household evacuation plan, identifying how neighbors can support one another and staying informed through trusted sources, is essential.

Affordable housing for seniors - applications open through Aug. 26

Applications are now open for affordable housing for seniors (ages 62 and older) at Sequoia Belle Haven and are due Aug. 26 at 5 p.m. For more information and how to apply, please visit the Sequoia Belle Haven page on MidPen's website.

Get unlimited swimming and workouts with SwimFit pass

Menlo Park residents ages 18+ can get unlimited swimming and fitness center workouts with the new SwimFit monthly pass. How it works: Residents who sign up for a monthly swim pass at the regular price will receive a free monthly pass to the BHCC fitness center.

M1-Crosstown Shuttle schedule to change July 1

The M1-Crosstown Shuttle is a free community service route operating Monday through Friday for all riders. Starting July 1, the M1-Crosstown Shuttle schedule will change from five runs inbound and outbound to four runs inbound and outbound. Additionally, to respond to traffic patterns, the schedule for the M1-Crosstown Shuttle will be adjusted. Review the schedule adjustments...

"Staycation" summer fun in Menlo Park

Summer is here in beautiful Menlo Park, California, U.S.A. Here's just a tiny sampling of the many ways to have an amazing summer right here at home, all summer long!

Community member celebrates 101st birthday

Happy birthday to Mr. Henry Rainer! We celebrated his 101st birthday at Menlo Park Senior Center. He has lived in Menlo Park for 64 years.

See more City news

Food assistance

Click the below button to see a list of places to find assistance with groceries, hot meals, and other food-related resources focused in Menlo Park and San Mateo County.

Also included are a few general links to resources outside of San Mateo County, such as the Second Harvest Map, 211 Bay Area, and the California Association of Food Banks.

There are also links to articles listing restaurants offering free meals to SNAP recipients throughout November 2025.

Click here to see a list of food assistance resources

Lunch menu

Let's do lunch at the Menlo Park Senior Center! For active older adults ages 60+ years. The lunch menu at Menlo Park Senior Center features freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced meals paired with conversation and fun! Lunch is served Monday through Friday at noon. Suggested donation is $2.50.

JANUARY 2026

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
			1	2
			CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY NO LUNCH SERVICE	CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY NO LUNCH SERVICE
5	6	7	8	9
❤ Chicken Club Sandwich Pasta Salad Fresh Fruit	Clam Chowder Bowl Side Salad Chef's Choice Dessert	Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Side Salad Garlic Bread Chef's Choice Dessert	GROCERY BOX DAY NO LUNCH SERVICE	❤ Fresh Catch of the Day Steamed Brown Rice Steamed Mixed Vegetables Chef's Choice Dessert
12	13	14	15	16
Soup of the Day ❤ Chicken Caesar Salad Garlic Bread Chef's Choice Dessert	BBQ Pork Tenderloin ❤ Buttered Corn Fiesta Baked Potato Fresh Fruit	Beef Quesadilla Spanish Rice Roasted Greens Fresh Fruit	❤ Roasted Chicken Sauteed Vegetables Baked Potatoes Chef's Choice Dessert	Oven-Fried Cornmeal Catfish Collard Greens Potato Salad Peach Cobbler
19	20	21	22	23
CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY NO LUNCH SERVICE	❤ Oven Roasted Turkey Canned Yams Steamed Vegetables Chef's Choice Dessert	Old Fashioned Meatloaf Mashed Potatoes Steamed Greens Chef's Choice Dessert	GROCERY BOX DAY NO LUNCH SERVICE	Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Seasonal Salad Garlic Bread Chef's Choice Dessert
26	27	28	29	30
Beef and Potato Stew with Assorted Vegetables Steamed Rice Chef's Choice Dessert	Soup of the Day Chef's Salad Grilled Chicken Sandwich Oriental Slaw Chef's Choice Dessert	❤ Mushroom Chicken Sauteed Vegetables Roasted Potatoes Fresh Fruit	Three Cheese and Meat Lasagna Side Salad Garlic Bread Chef's Choice Dessert	Beef Burrito Pico de Gallo and Salsa Spanish Rice Fresh Fruit

* Meals are first-come first-served. * Vegetarian/ special diet available on request. ☘ = Vegetarian entree ❤ = Healthy choice ✆ Contact us: (650) 330-2280

Printable lunch menus

Transportation

M1-Crosstown-Shuttle_2021-10_Lytton-Alma.jpg.jpg

Free, reliable transportation service is available to and from Menlo Park Senior Center.

The address is Menlo Park Senior Center, 100 Terminal Avenue, Menlo Park, located at the Belle Haven Community Campus.

Bus schedules and other transportation resources are available at the senior center.

This webpage contains information about transportation services available to senior adults in Menlo Park.

Can't find what you're looking for? Contact us

Menlo Park Senior Shuttle

The City of Menlo Park offers free, accessible, door-to-door shuttle service to adults ages 60+ who live in Menlo Park's Belle Haven neighborhood. Take a ride on a comfortable, all-electric shuttle bus. Contact us or come to the senior center for details.

Free city shuttles

The City of Menlo Park provides free shuttle services to the community, including to and from Menlo Park Senior Center and other locations in Menlo Park.

Learn more about free city shuttle services

Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM) Ride Benefit

Medi-Cal and CareAdvantage members who have no means of transportation to approved healthcare visits and back home can use HPSM’s Ride Benefit at no cost. Members must schedule rides through HPSM at least two business days before their healthcare appointments. (For urgent appointments, call as soon as possible.)

Learn more about HPSM's RideBenefit

Paratransit

Paratransit is for persons with disabilities who cannot independently use public bus service some of the time or all of the time. The paratransit service is provided by SamTrans using Redi-Wheels on the bayside of the county and RediCoast on the coastside. Trips must be scheduled at least one day in advance.

Learn more about SamTrans paratransit

RidePlus

SamTrans’ new ride-hailing Ride Plus offers easy, affordable on-demand transportation for riders in Menlo Park's Belle Haven neighborhood, East Palo Alto and Half Moon Bay. Download the app, visit samtrans.com/RidePlus or call (650) 238-5880.

RidePlus - Book Now!

SamTrans

SamTrans is San Mateo County's public transportation service. Click the below links for more information about the services SamTrans offers.

Classes

Learning is a lifelong adventure! The City of Menlo Park hosts a wide range of high-quality recreational classes, including classes designed for adults ages 60 years and up. Check out our Activity Guide to learn about classes including fitness, dance, music, arts, crafts, cooking, and more. Whether you're a curious newcomer or a seasoned student, there's probably something to pique your interest.

See the Activity Guide

Looking for information about Belle Haven Pool and swim activities? Click the above red "activity guide" button then go to the Aquatics tab, or visit menloswim.com

Contact us

Programs and transportation

Yesenia Fierro-Gutierrez
Senior Program Assistant
Email
650-330-2517

Nutrition and food service

Tony Ng
Nutrition Services Coordinator
Email
650-330-2209

Manager

Natalya Jones
Library and Community Services Manager
Email
650-330-2271

Featured events

News and updates

Where to get help with groceries, hot meals, and other food assistance

See a list of places to get help with groceries, hot meals, and other food resources in Menlo Park and San Mateo County.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month

Check it out! Menlo Park Seed Lending Library

Event recap: Senior center cookie bake!

Menlo Park Senior Center visitors had a great time baking flourless peanut butter cookies, lemon cookies, and sugar cookies on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025

National Preparedness Month – Review the key steps for emergencies

National Preparedness Month: Be prepared for evacuations

September is National Disaster Preparedness Month

Affordable housing for seniors - applications open through Aug. 26

Get unlimited swimming and workouts with SwimFit pass

M1-Crosstown Shuttle schedule to change July 1

"Staycation" summer fun in Menlo Park

Summer is here in beautiful Menlo Park, California, U.S.A. Here's just a tiny sampling of the many ways to have an amazing summer right here at home, all summer long!

Community member celebrates 101st birthday

Happy birthday to Mr. Henry Rainer! We celebrated his 101st birthday at Menlo Park Senior Center. He has lived in Menlo Park for 64 years.

Community member celebrates 101st birthday

Happy birthday to Mr. Duncan McQuarrie! We celebrated his 101st birthday at Menlo Park Senior Center. He has lived in Menlo Park for 43 years.

See more City news

Announcements

Menlo Park Senior Center provides information in multiple formats including on paper signs and flyers, by email, on the website, and by "lunch and learn" verbal announcements made during the lunch hour.

Recent verbal announcements

Senior center feedback and responses

The city collects feedback about the senior center and shares what the city has done and is doing in response to the feedback.

Do you have additional feedback to share about the senior center? We want to hear from you! Your feedback helps us to improve. You can write your feedback on paper for our suggestion box, or send it to us online, or call us at 650-330-2280. Thank you!

Created June 20, 2024. Last updated Dec. 19, 2025.

Topic	Feedback	Notes
Space and Amenities	Questions about the size and space available for seniors in the new location compared to the old one	During Senior Center operating hours, Senior Center users have exclusive use of multiple spaces in the BHCC, including the community room, senior lounge, makerspace, movement studio, and flex classroom. This amount of space is comparable to the old facility. Seniors also have access to the gymnasium, fitness center, and all-ages library.
Space and Amenities	Request to add a second pool table	Staff observes that the same 8-10 individuals use the pool table on a regular basis. The pool table is now available exclusively to seniors 5 days, 35 total hours per week. The layout of the pool table and furniture was modified to allow more room for players to gather. The limited demand does not indicate a need to add a second pool table. Adding a second pool table would require removing other amenities in the BHCC.
Space and Amenities	Request to install a piano	Staff is has acquired a portable electric keyboard that is available to be brought out for live music.
Space and Amenities	Concern that floor outlets in dining hall stick up, and people could trip over them	Dining room tables have been rearranged to cover most of the outlets. For events that include dancing, a portable dance floor has been brought in to create a smooth dancing area. The city engineering team is working on a plan to remove some of the floor outlets and cover them flush with the floor surface.
Space and Amenities	Doors to the senior center dining hall and restrooms would benefit from having automated door opener.	The city engineering team is working on a plan to install automated door openers at the restrooms and entrance to the senior dining hall.
Supplies and Furniture	Request for new pool cues, professional dominoes, and other supplies	New pool cues, professional domino sets and playing cards were purchased and are available for use.
Supplies and Furniture	Request for sturdier chairs in dining room with a handle and higher seat	Sturdier, cushioned chairs are provided for any seniors who would like to use them. Just ask a staff person and we’d be glad to assist! City staff are reviewing options for acquiring additional new chairs.
Supplies and Furniture	Request to add clocks to all rooms with bigger numbers	Large-format analog clocks were added in multiple locations.
Programs and Hours	Concern that the pool table used to be available until 4pm, now is only until 2pm	Pool table hours are now from 9 am to 4 pm weekdays.
Programs and Hours	Request access to computers	Belle Haven Library has laptops available for free checkout. Ask city staff for details.
Programs and Hours	Request confirmation that special events will be restarted in the near future	Monthly themed events restarted on Sept. 16, 2024, and additional special events have resumed.
Programs and Hours	Request for the aquafit program at Belle Haven Pool to start earlier in the morning so participants are not late to the senior lunch program.	The aquafit program was rescheduled to an earlier time of morning.
Other comments	Concern that a three-story building was proposed, but only a two-story building was built	Very early, conceptual ideas for the new building showed sketches of a potential 3-story structure with a large outdoor "breezeway" area, but this was quickly revised to a 2-story structure as the design progressed, resulting in a more efficient building with fewer stairs and easier to move from room to room. All of the design concepts proposed roughly the same total square footage for the new building.
Other comments	Comment that the seniors were promised that the new space would be exactly the same as the old one, but it is not the same	Staff has searched records but has found no evidence of a promise that the new space would be exactly the same as the old space.
Other comments	Request for transportation to/from East Palo Alto (at least for seniors that used to receive transportation, if not new members)	Public transportation schedules and other transportation information are on display in the senior center for the public to see. They also are available on the senior center webpage. Just ask a staff person and we’d be glad to assist!
Other comments	Question about why the lunch and learn sessions are not video recorded	The sessions are not recorded in order to protect the privacy of participants who do not wish to have their remarks video recorded.
Other comments	Request to post on the bulletin board the topics talked about at the lunch and learn information session	Posted on the bulletin board and on the senior center webpage.