Sustaining local seniors to continue to “Eat Well, Age Well” is a recent nearly $5,700 grant from Bayer Fund to Meals on Wheels Yolo County.

The grant award marks an eighth year of commitment by Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S., to the MOW Yolo mission to nourish and engage seniors in Yolo County.

Last year, Bayer awarded MOW Yolo $10,000 for the Weekend Food Project. This year’s grant is also intended to sustain and expand MOW Yolo’s “Weekend Food Project,” providing weekend nutrition to the lowest-income older adults served by the organization.

Assembled and delivered twice-monthly as shelf-stable meals supplemented with fresh fruit, the Weekend Food Project care packages are intended to nourish recipients in between MOW Yolo’s weekday deliveries of prepared hot/fresh and frozen meals.

Approximately 350 seniors continue to participate in the program, and MOW Yolo is working to expand access in the coming year.

“Looming reductions in seniors’ ability to connect with CalFresh and other mainstay food security programs, paired with a growing senior population as the Baby Boomer cohort ages, are adding pressure to programs such as Meals on Wheels Yolo County to maintain and amplify services,” explained MOW Yolo Executive Director Joy Cohan. “Simultaneously, MOW Yolo faces dwindling governmental funding opportunities. That’s what makes this investment by Bayer Fund so timely and so meaningful.”

The project is one of three senior nutrition and engagement programs the organization operates. MOW Yolo’s signature Home-Delivered Meals program provides five meals via one or more doorstep deliveries per week to seniors in all communities and rural locations countywide. Additionally, weekly Café Yolo Social Dining and monthly Café Yolo To-Go are aimed at decreasing seniors’ isolation while sharing a healthy meal. The Café Yolo opportunities are available in Woodland, Davis, West Sacramento, Winters and Esparto.

“Bayer Fund is proud to support Meals on Wheels Yolo County and their work to make real, sustainable impacts in their community,” said President of Bayer Fund Michael Parrish. “Programs like Weekend Food Project help combat the critical issue of food insecurity, and we’re honored to play a role with helping even more people in their community have access to healthy, nutritious food.”

Bayer Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where Bayer customers and employees live and work by providing funding for food and nutrition, and health and wellness projects. Last year, Bayer Fund supported more than 2,200 charitable and nonprofit organizations to help address essential needs in these categories.

Meals on Wheels Yolo County nourishes and engages seniors countywide who experience mobility challenges and/or isolation that disrupts their good health.

Now celebrating its 50th year, MOW Yolo has a rich history of supporting the needs of older adults both at their doorsteps and in congregate settings, and the organization thrives thanks to donations of funds and time from the community. To connect with services or to offer support, please visit https://mowyolo.org or call 530-662-7035.