Meals on Wheels San Diego County and San Diego Food Bank expand food access for homebound seniors with first-of-its-kind grocery delivery program

As the new year begins, two leading local nonprofits, Meals on Wheels San Diego County and the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, are launching a grocery delivery program to expand food access for homebound seniors. A first-of-its-kind for Meals on Wheels San Diego, the new “Groceries on the Go” program under the organization’s “More Than a Meal” initiative will enable volunteers and staff to deliver perishable and shelf-stable, senior-friendly grocery items from the San Diego Food Bank directly to seniors’ doors, supplementing the prepared meals they already receive, according to a news release.

“It’s no secret that this past year brought funding uncertainties for nonprofits across the country, especially those addressing food and nutrition insecurity,” says Brent Wakefield, president and CEO, Meals on Wheels San Diego County, in the news release. “We faced challenges but remained resilient. This year, it’s all about collaboration, not competition, to help the most vulnerable in our community: homebound seniors. Through the ‘Groceries on the Go’ program, we’ll go beyond our traditional model of delivering prepared meals to provide perishable and shelf-stable groceries that will supplement other meals, giving our seniors more opportunities to live a nutritious and independent lifestyle, even if they can’t leave home to shop for the groceries they need.”

Working together to deliver more than meals to seniors in need

Meals on Wheels San Diego County supports seniors through its “More Than a Meal” initiative, which reflects the organization’s holistic approach to supporting seniors beyond meal delivery. In addition to providing nutritious, home-delivered meals, the initiative addresses the broader needs of seniors by offering regular daily safety checks, social connection, and access to critical resources that help them remain safe and independent at home. Through community partnerships and expanded services such as “Groceries on the Go,” nutrition support, and referrals to supportive programs, the “More Than a Meal” initiative recognizes that for many homebound seniors, a meal delivery may be the only daily point of contact, making it a vital lifeline for nourishment, dignity, and connection, the news release stated.

Building on this approach, homebound seniors often have limited to no access to pantries and supermarkets, and this new partnership with the San Diego Food Bank expands access to nutritious food for seniors who need it most. Currently, Meals on Wheels San Diego County delivers up to two meals per day, and “Groceries on the Go” will expand food security for the seniors it supports, filling gaps in their daily nutrition and supporting their morning medication routines.

As a San Diego Food Bank partner, staff from each of the four Meals on Wheels San Diego service centers visit the Food Bank’s Food Center each month. The supplemental grocery items include an array of hand-selected perishable and shelf-stable staples like foiled-packed proteins (i.e. chicken, salmon, tuna), granola bars, canned goods, cereal items, powdered milk, fruit juices, crackers, peanut butter and more, provided at no or low cost to Meals on Wheels from the Food Bank.

The groceries are then brought back to the respective service centers, prepared for distribution, and delivered directly to seniors’ doors weekly by dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteers, ensuring those most in need throughout the county receive nutritious food. The pilot program will deliver groceries to up to 500 households per month across North County, South County, East County, and Metro areas, supporting approximately 25 households per week per service center.

A perfect pairing to support San Diego seniors

For over 65 years, Meals on Wheels San Diego County has delivered more than meals to thousands of local seniors every day of the year, including holidays. This new partnership with the San Diego Food Bank allows essential groceries to be delivered right to the doorsteps of homebound or isolated seniors, alongside prepared meals, daily safety checks, and much-needed conversation and connection.

While the San Diego Food Bank has long supported individuals and families experiencing food insecurity throughout the region, this partnership with Meals on Wheels San Diego County strengthens and extends that work, ensuring more seniors who are unable to leave their homes receive consistent access to nutritious food.

“Seniors with limited mobility face unique barriers to accessing food, and this program helps close a critical gap in our community’s hunger-relief system,” says Casey Castillo, CEO of the San Diego Food Bank, in the news release. “By working alongside Meals on Wheels San Diego County, we are meeting people where they are, literally at their doors, with the food and support that make stability and dignity possible.”

The grocery deliveries are an add-on to the existing Meals on Wheels home-delivered meal program, not a stand-alone service. The “Groceries on the Go” program is available to new and existing Meals on Wheels San Diego County clients who already receive home-delivered meals, and demonstrate a need for additional grocery support.

For more information about “Groceries on the Go,” and ways to support Meals on Wheels San Diego County, call 1-800-573-6467. Program sponsors are still needed. If interested in becoming a sponsor, contact Amie Brown, chief external affairs officer, Meals on Wheels San Diego County, at abrown@meals-on-wheels.org for more details.