50th Anniversary Meals On Wheels Campaign

Currently, over 35% of our community’s seniors age 65+ do not have enough income to meet their most basic needs, including healthy food. This percentage of seniors in crisis is only going to grow, as our senior population increases along with the increasing cost of living. Many of these seniors are homebound, disabled, often isolated and lonely. And while Senior Concerns’ Meals On Wheels has been dedicated to leaving no senior hungry, there is the hard truth that the program is facing an annual deficit of almost $300,000. We CAN and MUST do something now, before this deficit leads to a waiting lists or fewer meals… and ultimately, hungry seniors.

This is why in Senior Concerns 50th year, we are embarking on an ambitious 3 Million Dollar fundraising campaign to create a special fund that will be used to ensure that no senior in our community will be denied a meal or a social connection, not now, or in the future. And this is where you can make a difference. Your donation won’t provide just meals. You will help deliver hope, companionship, and the reassurance that no one has to face aging alone. Your generosity today will help secure the future of this life-changing program. Together, we can make a lasting difference. This is the future of Meals On Wheels.

Meals On Wheels is more than a meal delivery service—it’s a vital program that supports seniors’ well-being, fosters independence, and relies on community support to bridge critical funding gaps.

• Oftentimes the volunteer driver of Meals On Wheels is the only person a senior may see that day. That driver can be a lifeline, recognizing any issues.
• Less than half of the funding for our Meals On Wheels comes from the county and city of Thousand Oaks. The remainder of funding relies on fundraisers, donations, and fees.
• The total cost to provide over 70,000 meals per year to community seniors totals $900,000, yet the funding received is under by  $175,000 per year.
• Research indicates that access to the nutritious meals delivered through our Meals On Wheels Program can increase overall health, thus reducing trips to the emergency room and hospitalizations, thereby keeping healthcare costs down. The program also enables seniors to live independently longer, thus reducing costs associated with nursing home stays.