The shutdown may be over, but hunger still remains for thousands of older adults across Santa Cruz County. To strengthen the local safety net, Community Bridges’ Meals on Wheels and Grey Bears have joined forces to launch Delivering More Together: Complete Nutrition for Santa Cruz County Seniors.
The new partnership automatically enrolls homebound seniors who receive Meals on Wheels deliveries into Grey Bears’ Healthy Food Program, which provides weekly grocery bags filled with fresh produce and pantry staples. The dual-service approach ensures older adults have access to both ready-to-eat meals and groceries at no cost.
“This partnership ensures that every older adult can count on both a warm meal and fresh groceries—no matter what’s happening in Washington,” said Raymon Cancino, CEO of Community Bridges. “When funding fails or policies change, our community still shows up.”
Community Bridges will cover the enrollment cost for new participants joining through Meals on Wheels, removing a key financial barrier for seniors living on fixed incomes. The two organizations are coordinating deliveries to ensure seamless service across the county.
“With the recent federal nutrition cuts, homebound seniors are especially vulnerable because they can’t simply increase their income to cover higher food costs,” said Jennifer Merchant, executive director of Grey Bears. “By uniting our essential food services, we’re keeping nutrition equitable and accessible for every senior.”
Meals on Wheels Senior Program Director Dana Wagner said the collaboration offers peace of mind to families and caregivers. “It’s one less worry for them, and a huge step toward making our community stronger and more connected,” Wagner said.
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The Delivering More Together initiative is funded entirely by community donations. Contributions can be made at communitybridges.org/donate or greybears.org/ways-to-give.