What began as a gathering rooted in local food, fine wine and shared purpose has grown into one of Community Bridges’ signature traditions: an evening where generosity becomes nourishment, care and connection for thousands of neighbors.
On Saturday, June 27, 2026, Community Bridges will host the 11th Annual Farm to Fork Gala from 5 to 9 p.m. at Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive in Aptos. The evening will bring together supporters, partners and community champions for seasonal cuisine, fine regional wines, live and silent auctions, and exclusive experiences in a beautiful coastal setting.
This year’s theme — celebrating local food, wine and community impact — reflects what Farm to Fork has always made possible: a joyful gathering with a serious purpose. Every ticket, sponsorship, donation and auction bid helps sustain Community Bridges’ network of 10 programs serving children, families and seniors across the Central Coast.
A community safety net in a changing moment
For nearly 50 years, Community Bridges has delivered essential services, expanded equitable access to resources, and advocated for health and dignity across every stage of life. Since 1977, the organization has grown into a family of 10 vital programs across more than 20 sites, providing local residents with access to transportation, healthy food, health care, senior adult day health care, crisis support, case management, early education, tutoring and family education.
That work has never been more important.
H.R. 1 is already reshaping the public benefits that many local families, older adults and people with disabilities rely on. CalFresh recipients may receive less money for food, more people will need to meet work or community engagement requirements, many lawfully present immigrants are losing eligibility, and California will need to pay more to administer the program and cover some benefits.
The impacts are also unfolding in Medi-Cal, where changes to eligibility rules, renewal timelines and enrollment processes could create new barriers for people who depend on health coverage and community-based care.
For Community Bridges, these changes are not abstract. They show up when a family is unsure whether they still qualify for food assistance. They show up when an older adult risks losing coverage because of paperwork or renewal changes. They show up when caregivers, seniors and people with disabilities need trusted help navigating a system that is becoming harder to understand.
Community Bridges meets that moment with compassion, integrity and support, helping neighbors access food, health care navigation, transportation, crisis support and the services they need to remain stable.
Seniors are feeling the pressure
The growing need is especially visible among older adults.
Santa Cruz County is already home to more than 72,000 residents over age 59, representing 26% of the total population, and that share is expected to grow to nearly 30% by 2030. County leaders have also identified significant challenges around health care access, caregiver stress, loneliness, housing affordability, transportation and emergency preparedness for older residents.
That need is especially urgent at Elderday Adult Day Health Care, which helps older adults and people with disabilities remain safe, supported and connected while continuing to live at home. Elderday provides coordinated care for adults with complex medical conditions through nurses, therapists, dietitians, social workers, transportation, personalized meals and daily activities. The program also gives family caregivers critical respite, helping loved ones stay at home with greater stability and dignity.
At a time when H.R. 1 is changing Medi-Cal eligibility and renewal rules — and adding broader federal pressure to Medicare reimbursement policy — community support for Elderday is vital. Any disruption in eligibility, coverage continuity, reimbursement or administrative requirements can directly affect the care that seniors, adults with disabilities and family caregivers rely on every day.
Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County strengthens this continuum of care by helping older adults stay nourished, connected and independent through home-delivered meals, dining sites and wellness checks for isolated seniors. The program serves adults 60 and older who are homebound and struggle to meet their nutritional needs, while drivers check in on isolated elders and connect them to other services when needed. Due to funding cuts at all levels, Meals on Wheels began screening for eligibility as of April 1, 2025, to prioritize limited resources for seniors most in need.
Together, Elderday, Meals on Wheels and Lift Line — the Community Bridges Seniors & Transportation Division — form a local safety net that helps older adults stay healthy, nourished, and connected. Last, Community Bridges recorded 14,419 days of elder care, 207,021 senior meals served, 178,815 home-delivered meals and 109,489 door-to-door rides.
Farm to Fork gives the community a direct way to protect these essential programs at a moment when older adults and caregivers need them most.
A community response to a community challenge
The need for local, compassionate support is growing, as community-based organizations are being asked to do more with less certainty around public funding.
That is why Farm to Fork matters.
Every ticket, sponsorship, donation and auction bid helps Community Bridges continue showing up for neighbors who are navigating uncertainty, rising costs and changing public benefits. The evening celebrates the growers, donors, volunteers, businesses, advocates and community champions who believe that no child, family or older adult should have to face hardship alone.
When a senior spends the day at Elderday in a safe and welcoming community, that is dignity. When a caregiver receives respite, that is support. When a meal arrives at the door with a wellness check, that is compassion. When neighbors gather to fund the programs that hold the safety net together, that is community.
Join the celebration
The 11th Annual Farm to Fork Gala is an invitation to meet this moment together.
Guests will enjoy a memorable evening of seasonal cuisine, fine regional wines, live and silent auctions, and exclusive experiences at Seascape Golf Club. Tickets are listed at $150 to $1,200, with opportunities to attend, sponsor, donate or contribute auction items.
11th Annual Farm to Fork Gala
Saturday, June 27, 2026
5–9 p.m.
Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos
Contact: donations@cbridges.org or 831-688-8840 ext. 205
Celebrate local food, fine wine and the power of community. Help Community Bridges protect our participants and strengthen the safety net our neighbors rely on today and will need tomorrow.
more from community bridges
