Scotts Valley proclaims 50th anniversary for Meals on Wheels of Santa Cruz County

Mayor Lind presented a mayoral proclamation at the March 18 meeting recognizing Meals on Wheels of Santa Cruz County for 50 years of service and the delivery of millions of meals to older adults in the region.

In remarks introducing the proclamation, the mayor cited program milestones and local impact, saying the organization delivers roughly 200,000 meals annually and serves about 1,600 vulnerable older adults (the proclamation text also itemized 164,000 home‑delivered meals plus 32,000 congregate dining site meals). The mayor noted the program’s uninterrupted service during past emergencies, including floods, earthquakes, the CZU Lightning Complex fires and the COVID‑19 pandemic, and described the relationships formed between volunteers and the seniors they serve as critical to community well‑being.

Dana Wagner, who identified herself as the program director for Meals on Wheels of Santa Cruz County, accepted the proclamation and thanked the council. Wagner said the recognition honors the organization’s staff and volunteers and noted that “although Meals on Wheels is not recommended for funding this year, we are grateful for the support that we've received over the past years, and we hope to be able to reapply next year.”

The proclamation also highlighted the organization reaching its 10‑millionth meal delivered since inception. The council did not take any formal funding action on the proclamation during the meeting; the city separately considered community grant awards later in the agenda.