Community Champions Week highlights work of Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County joins the Meals on Wheels Association of America in celebrating Community Champions Week, March 21-25 to increase awareness and encourage support for senior nutrition needs and services.
Elected officials will deliver meals to local seniors to experience the impact services have on those who struggle with aging, isolation and poverty.
Deliveries are Monday, March 21 through Friday, March 25 starting at the Elena Baskin Live Oak Senior Center, 1777 Capitola Road in Santa Cruz. Participants will gather in the back loading area at 10 a.m. each morning.
Officials were also invited to visit the program’s five senior dining sites to enjoy the camaraderie. Lunch served at four sites on March 24 at 12 noon will include a springtime celebration.
Field Representatives Ryan Simon from Congressman Sam Farr’s office and Nicolette Lee from Senator Bill Monning’s office will deliver meals on Friday, March 25 following a press conference at the Meals on Wheels Live Oak kitchen beginning at 10 a.m.
Cecilia Espinola, County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department Director, and Raymon Cancino, Community Bridges CEO will be in attendance at the Friday morning press conference and help deliver meals.
First District County Supervisor John Leopold will help serve lunch at the Live Oak Senior Center on Wednesday, March 23.
Second District County Supervisor Zach Friend will deliver meals to seniors’ homes on Wednesday, March 23.
Third District County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty will help serve lunch at the Louden Nelson Community Center located at 301 Center Street in Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz on Thursday,
March 24.
Joining Supervisor Coonerty are Santa Cruz Mayor Cynthia Mathews and Councilmembers Don Lane and Micah Posner. Councilmember Posner will also deliver meals to seniors’ homes on Friday, March 25.
Fifth District County Supervisor Bruce McPherson will help serve lunch at the Scotts Valley Senior Center located at 360 Kings Village Road on Wednesday, March 23. Joining him is Scotts Valley Mayor Donna Lind.
Watsonville Mayor Felipe Hernandez and Councilmembers Lowell Hurst and Rebecca Garcia will help serve lunch at the Watsonville Senior Center located at 114 E 5th Street on Thursday, March 24. Councilmember Hurst will also deliver meals to seniors’ homes on Friday, March 25.
All those age 60 and over are welcome to visit the dining sites Monday through Friday for a suggested donation of $2.50. The Scotts Valley site serves on Wednesdays only.
Since 1976, Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County, a program of Community Bridges, has served nearly 9 million meals to 70,000 local seniors in need. Every day, Meals on Wheels serves nearly 1,800 seniors in need each year with warm meals, caring human contact, and a personalized service plan. The tireless work of this program — supported by a dedicated army of 200 volunteers — allows thousands of Santa Cruz County residents to remain healthy, safe, and independent in their own homes.
For more information about Community Bridges services or to view Meals on Wheels lunch menus, please visit www.communitybridges.org or email [email protected].
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To find out if an individual qualifies for home-delivered meals, please call 831-464-3180. Meals on Wheels services are funded in part by the Older Americans Act of 1965.