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:
38% of seniors live alone, increasing risks of isolation and food insecurity.
Only 55% of older adults say their current income is sufficient to meet their basic needs.
40% report experiencing challenges accessing transportation—an essential factor in food access.
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:
Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County delivers more than 1,200 nutritious meals every week to homebound seniors. Each meal is accompanied by a wellness check—often the only human contact a senior might have that day. Meals on Wheels also serves about 500 seniors at in-person dining sites in Watsonville, Santa Cruz, Live Oak, and Ben Lomond each weekday.
Grey Bears provides weekly bags of fresh produce and pantry staples to over 4,000 senior households, with neighborhood-based drop-off sites and home deliveries made possible by volunteers—many of them seniors themselves. Grey Bears also serves communal hot lunches five days a week from its mid-county location on Chanticleer Ave., serving 63,000 meals last year, nourishing seniors and reducing social isolation.
Here’s How You Can Help
Both organizations are calling on the community to get involved:
Donate to support this local safety net.
Meals on Wheels: CommunityBridges.org/donate
Grey Bears: greybears.org/ways-to-give/
Volunteer to pack or deliver meals and groceries.
Meals on Wheels: CommunityBridges.org/volunteer
Grey Bears: greybears.org/volunteer/
Spread the word to connect seniors in need to these vital services.
Need food assistance?
Meals on Wheels: Apply Here
Grey Bears: Join Here or call 831-479-1055
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.
