Together at the Table: Community Bridges and Grey Bears Strengthen Partnership to Combat Senior Hunger Amid Rising Need

Santa Cruz County, CA — Two of Santa Cruz County’s longest-standing senior-serving nonprofits—Community Bridges’ Meals on Wheels and Grey Bears—are deepening their partnership to address a growing crisis: thousands of older adults in our region are going hungry.

With a combined century of service, Grey Bears and Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County are uniting to confront the growing challenges facing local seniors. Together, we are rallying community support to ensure every older adult has access to nutritious food, meaningful social connection, and vital wellness checks—now and in the future. Together, we provide a comprehensive safety net of weekly grocery bags, home-delivered meals, and wellness visits—tailored to the unique needs of aging adults across Santa Cruz County.

Now, we need your help.

Says Community Bridges Raymon Cancino: “Food insecurity isn’t just a national issue—it’s a daily reality for many of our neighbors. And with looming cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other critical support programs, this is a defining moment for our seniors. That’s why we’re stepping up, together, to ensure no older adult is left to face hunger or isolation alone. The challenges ahead are serious—but our community has always risen to meet moments like this with compassion and strength. Now is the time to do it again.”

Jennifer Merchant, Grey Bears Executive Director, agrees “Santa Cruz County has the fastest-growing senior population in California, and we’re acutely feeling that demand. While the need for senior services is at an all-time high, Grey Bears and Meals on Wheels offer uniquely local solutions, providing food that matches the demand of every stage of life. We are the safety net seniors can count on for reliable access to nutritious food.”

The local need is dire. According to Age Well Santa Cruz County’s Community Assessment, nearly 1 in 3 seniors in Santa Cruz County reports being concerned about their ability to afford food. Additionally:

At the same time, billions of dollars in federal cuts to essential safety net programs like CalFresh (SNAP) and the National Senior Nutrition Program (NSIP) are compounding the crisis. As food prices remain high and healthcare costs rise, local seniors are increasingly forced to choose between paying for groceries, medication, or rent—especially in the nation’s most unaffordable rental market.

These challenges are expected to grow even more severe under the newly passed “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which slashes funding for Medicaid and SNAP while expanding work requirements for adults aged 55–64. Nearly 17 million people nationwide are projected to lose health coverage, and older adults will face even greater barriers to accessing food and care.

Though the bill includes a one-time tax deduction for seniors, it pales in comparison to the long-term harm caused by cuts to the very programs they rely on to age with dignity and security.

Instead of waiting for help from elsewhere, Meals on Wheels and Grey Bears are expanding their collaborative efforts to rally community support:

Here’s How You Can Help

Both organizations are calling on the community to get involved:

Need food assistance?

About Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County 

Since 1976, Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County, a program of Community Bridges, has served nearly 10 million meals to 75,000 local seniors in need. Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County serves 1,600 seniors in need each year with nutritious meals and caring human contact. The tireless work of this program—supported by a dedicated army of 80 volunteers—allows thousands of Santa Cruz County residents to remain healthy, safe, and independent in their own homes.

About Grey Bears

Local, vital and multifaceted, Grey Bears promotes good nutrition, activity and social connection as the perfect recipe for healthy aging. Since 1973 the Healthy Food program has delivered 110 million pounds of food to Santa Cruz County seniors, veterans, families and farmworkers.

The Grey Bears thrift store repurposes donated household items while reducing our collective carbon footprint. Three recycling centers divert 8,000 tons of material from landfills each year, and our composting site transforms 60 tons of food scraps into high-quality compost for sale in the thrift store. We promote activity, seniors learning and volunteering to keep our community engaged and connected. Learn more at www.greybears.org.

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