Every weekday morning across Santa Cruz County, a quiet rhythm unfolds. Meals are prepared and packed. Delivery routes are mapped. Volunteers gather their keys and checklists. Then, one by one, the doors open, and hundreds of local seniors don’t just receive a nutritious meal; they welcome a familiar face, a moment of conversation, and the reassurance that someone remembered to come.
For 50 years, that simple act has defined Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County.
Founded in 1976 as the Golden Age Nutrition Program, Meals on Wheels began as a modest community response to hunger among older adults. Over time, it has grown into one of the county’s most trusted lifelines—delivering nourishment, dignity, and human connection to seniors who want nothing more than to remain healthy and independent in the homes and neighborhoods they love.
This year, Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County, a program of Community Bridges, marks a remarkable milestone: 50 years of service, nearly 10 million meals delivered, and thousands of older adults supported through moments of stability and crisis alike.
Those numbers tell part of the story. The rest is found in the everyday details.
Five Decades of Impact
At dining sites across the county, seniors gather for hot meals served with warmth and familiarity. Conversations unfold over soup and salad. Birthdays are remembered. Routines are restored.
For homebound seniors, the experience is quieter but no less profound. Volunteer drivers travel mountain roads, coastal neighborhoods, and rural routes—from the Pajaro Valley in the south to Boulder Creek in the north—carrying meals directly to doorsteps. Along with food come safety checks, friendly greetings, and the comfort of knowing someone will notice if something feels off.
According to recent client surveys, more than half of congregate meal participants rely on Meals on Wheels as their main source of nutrition, and nearly nine in ten say the program helps them feel less isolated. Home-delivered meal recipients overwhelmingly report that the service helps them eat healthier and remain safely in their homes.
Participants describe the impact in simple, powerful terms:
“It is my main meal of the day.”
“I would be isolated if it were not for Meals on Wheels.”
“Coming here has made such a big difference in my life—the food, the people, the kindness.”
“Meals on Wheels is about consistency, safety, and knowing someone will be there,” says Ray Cancino, CEO of Community Bridges. “Every delivery represents a commitment to care and connection. After 50 years, that promise matters more than ever.”
It matters because the need is growing—and quickly.
Growing Need
Santa Cruz County is the fastest-aging county in California. By 2030, nearly 30% of residents will be age 60 or older, dramatically increasing demand for nutrition and supportive services. At the same time, the costs of delivering meals—food, fuel, staffing—continue to rise, while public funding has not kept pace.
Federal funding for senior nutrition programs has remained largely stagnant for years, and recurring uncertainty with budget decisions in congress could put programs across the state in jeopardy. At the same time, proposed cuts to food assistance programs threaten to push even more older adults into food insecurity.
Locally, a recent county funding reduction forced Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County—for the first time in its 50-year history—to implement a waitlist for seniors seeking services.
“We have never had to tell seniors to wait,” says Dana Wagner, Senior Program Manager for Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County. “But rising costs and reduced funding have brought us to a point where demand is outpacing our ability to respond. That is why this moment and this community’s support matters so deeply.”
This is where Food From the Heart comes in.
Ringing in 50 Years
On Friday, February 13, 2026, donors, partners, supporters, volunteers, and community members from all walks of life will gather at the Chaminade Resort & Spa for the 13th annual Food From the Heart Luncheon. The Valentine-themed celebration marks 50 years of Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County and serving as an essential fundraiser for the program’s future.
The luncheon is a beloved tradition, bringing together longtime supporters, new champions, and local leaders for an afternoon of connection and purpose. Guests will enjoy a catered lunch, silent and live auctions, a raffle, the annual Sweetheart Award ceremony, and powerful reflections on the program’s impact and future.
At the heart of the event is the Fund-A-Need—a collective moment when everyone in the room has the opportunity to directly support local seniors. From feeding one senior for a week to sponsoring every meal served countywide for a day, each gift helps ensure Meals on Wheels can continue showing up, without interruption, for those who depend on it.
More than a celebration, Food From the Heart is a turning point.
Fifty years. Nearly 10 million meals. Thousands of lives touched.
What happens next depends on the choices the community makes now.
Tickets, sponsorships, and donations support not just a program, but a goal: that no senior will be left wondering where their next meal will come from, or whether anyone will check on them tomorrow.
As one participant wrote, simply and profoundly: “You are a godsend. It means more than I can say.”
To learn more, attend the event, or support Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County, visit communitybridges.org/ffth.
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