Meals on Wheels director says program delivered nearly 125,000 meals in FY2026 and faces funding shortfalls

Dana Wagner, director of the Meals on Wheels program operated by Community Bridges, presented fiscal‑year‑to‑date service numbers to the council and stressed the program’s role in preventing isolation and institutional placement for older adults.

Wagner said, "For fiscal year 2026, Meals on Wheels delivered nearly 125,000 meals to homebound seniors. In the city of Santa Cruz, we delivered over 47,000 meals." She added the program served nearly 1,500 county residents and ran nearly 2,000 wellness checks; limited funding has forced a waiting list and, since April 2025, the program has been unable to assist 117 older adults. Wagner asked the council to keep safety‑net funding priorities under review.

Council members thanked Wagner and the volunteers, noting the program’s high satisfaction rates and the importance of continued local funding and coordination across agencies.