There’s something timeless and powerful about sharing a meal. Whether it’s a family dinner, a community potluck, or neighbors swapping recipes over fresh produce, food has always brought us together. It’s how we celebrate, how we care for one another, and how we build a sense of belonging.

But for many of our older neighbors, the table and pantry has grown more sparse. Access to nutritious meals is increasingly uncertain, especially for those living alone, facing mobility challenges, or struggling to stretch limited incomes.

In Santa Cruz County, Grey Bears and Meals on Wheels of Santa Cruz County, with a combined century of service, have worked to fill senior bellies and hearts by bringing a feast to fit every senior’s needs. Together, these two organizations are setting the table — literally and figuratively — for thousands of older adults across our region. Think of our approach like a beloved community potluck: Grey Bears delivers fresh greens, produce and pantry staples; Meals on Wheels serves up the hot meals and daily visits.

The key ingredient in it all: The unwavering support of our community.

The need is real. Across the country — and here in Santa Cruz County — federal programs like CalFresh (SNAP) and the National Senior Nutrition Program (NSIP) have been severely cut. These safety nets are lifelines for older adults who often must choose between paying for medication, rent or groceries. When food support is cut, the consequences ripple through our communities, impacting other support systems such as health care, transportation and housing.

Instead of waiting for help for local seniors to come from elsewhere, Grey Bears and Meals on Wheels, a program of Community Bridges, have grown a community-centric solution right here at home.

We are stepping up, together, to meet the growing need and ensure no senior is left behind. We’re strengthening our partnership to do what we’ve always done best — showing up with nourishment, care and connection. Together, Grey Bears and Meals on Wheels create a food safety net seniors across the county can rely on at every stage of aging, providing a local solution to senior food insecurity. And because our programs have focused solely on the needs of seniors for 100 years, collectively, we recognize unique needs and tailor nutrition, social connection and transportation to fill them.

Grey Bears distributes weekly bags of fresh produce and pantry staples to over 4,000 senior households, with dozens of neighborhood-based drop-off sites and home deliveries for those who are homebound. Every bag is packed and delivered by a community of volunteers — many of them seniors themselves — proving that giving and receiving can go hand-in-hand. Through peer-to-peer connection, seniors are provided vital social engagement opportunities, serving up nourishment for both bodies and minds.

Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County delivers hot, nutritious meals to more than 1,200 medically vulnerable seniors that are tailored to their health needs. Each delivery includes a wellness check and often the only personal interaction a senior might have that day. These meals nourish bodies, but they also feed souls — with compassion, care and consistency.

In the face of uncertainty, Grey Bears and Community Bridges are setting a place at the table for every senior. But we can’t do it alone. Now more than ever, we invite our community to join us. Your support, whether through donations or volunteering, helps us provide whole senior nourishment. Together, we can ensure every older adult in Santa Cruz County has the food and dignity they deserve.

To learn more and join us at this time of great need, go to communitybridges.org and https://greybears.org/ways-to-give/. Meals on Wheels Community Bridges https://communitybridges.org/meals-on-wheels-client-application/ Grey Bears https://greybears.org/online-membership-form/