Thank You for the Opportunity to Connect Folks Who Are Devoted to Making an Impact in Their

Thank you for the opportunity to connect folks who are devoted to making an impact in their community. We appreciate your consideration in partnering with Meals-on-Wheels San Diego County(MOWSDC) to help reduce the effects of senior hunger and isolation in San Diego County.

As proposals are often shared between the many stakeholders in an organization, I have also included a brief overview of MOWSDC.

Our History

Meals-on-Wheels San Diego County, a 501c3 organization, has been supporting the independence and well-being of homebound seniors throughout San Diego County for over 56 years.

Our program is designed specifically to address food insecurity, declining health and social isolation of a very vulnerable population:elderly, homebound seniors.To achieve this goal,meals are delivered by friendly volunteers and consist of fresh, healthy lunches and dinners, specifically made for senior’s dietary requirements. Additionally several menu options are available to provide variety, including Healthy Latino Cuisine and options to replace some menu items seniors may not prefer.

MOWSDC is the only agency inthe County that delivers meals for every day of the week, including all holidays. Often volunteers may be the only person a senior sees for the day, the week or even longer. Along with meal delivery and social visits,safety checks are conducted and referrals are provided to other support networks if necessary.

Note: If a senior has a pet, we deliver free pet food through our AniMeals program as well.

The Population Served

While MOWSDCserves anyone over the age of 60, the average age of our clients is 82, with 42% being over the age of 85. In fact, last year alone we served 28 clients over the age of 100! Additionally, the majority of our clients(84%)are considered low income according to HUD standards.

The homebound seniors MOWSDC serves are at high risk of malnutrition because of a combination of advanced age and their inability to be mobile. Undernourishment in seniors has many negative impacts on a senior’s health and can substantially increase the likelihood of illness, mortality, hospital length and stay, functional disabilities, and physical complications (D. Maher, C. Eliadi. 2015. Journal of Nursing. Malnutrition in the Elderly: An Unrecognized Health Issue).

The incredibly damaging effects of social isolation to both an older adult’s physical and mental well-beingare quite common with a homebound senior. Common health risks include increased risk of death, re-hospitalization (four to five times more likely within one year of original admittance), and an increase in the number of falls, depression, suicide, and cognitive decline (Nicholson, N. 2009, p. 1346 Medscape).

San Diego Seniors Additionally Impacted

While older adults are faced with the physical and physiological effects of aging and being homebound, they are also faced with the impact of inadequate incomeand the inability to return to the workforce to improve their financial state. The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guidelines and corresponding public services do not take into account the local cost of living which puts older adults living in California at a significant disadvantage resulting in the lack of ability to afford basic necessities such as housing, food, healthcare, and transportation.

Our Critical Need

Currently we deliver nearly a half a million meals a year throughoutSan Diego County with the demand for our services rising at a very rapid pace. The forecasted growth of seniors by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) from 2010 to 2020 is expected to increase by 35% in the North City, 31% in North County East, and 30% in North County West. Based on the current trends in demand for our services,we are conservatively predicting a 15% growth, year over year,throughthe year 2020 in North County.

Our Funding

Although seniors pay a very modest fee for service, all meals are subsidized by 60% and further subsidies are provided to those who qualify due to inability to pay.

MOWSDC receives no direct Federal funding and raises over $2.5M every year to help sustain the program at current levels of demand. These funds come primarily from individuals as well as private foundations where a grant has been awarded as a result of an application process.

Obviously, due to demand, funds raisedwill also need to increase minimally by 15% year over year, and possible more due to increase costs and a conservative growth estimate.

There are several ways that you and your organization can impact the lives of homebound seniors in San Diego County. We have a variety of partnership and collaborative options while working with corporate partners. Whatever the engagement we want to create a meaningful activity.

Financial support

Provide a corporate gift to demonstrate your commitment to homebound seniors in San Diego County

• Route Sponsorships—your logo is placed on the back window of the Meals on Wheels van that travels 30,000 miles each year. Each logo placement is $1,500

• Lunch Box Sponsorships---labels are printed with your business logo on the stadium boxes that accompany all lunches for 6 months. (approximately 1,450 lunches) $5,000

• Meal Sponsorships—yourorganizationwill sponsor specially created meals for Veteran’s Day, Christmas/New Year’s etc. Your logo will appear on the gifted meals along with a company spokesperson to be part of the TV/Media coverage typically part of the holiday campaign. $5,000

• Host a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels San Diego County. We ask the organization/company to set a goal of at least $1,260, which equates to meals for one senior for six months.

• Provide funding for equipment at the Meal Center.

• Purchase a van for meal delivery

• Host Specialty Cocktail/Mojito Madness at your restaurant/bar

• Join us as a celebrity chef at the gala

• Sponsor one of our major events
• March for Seniors Walk—Crown Point—March 31, 2018---Sponsorships available
• Meals on Wheels Gala—June 9, 2018—Sponsorships available
• Fishing for Charity—Summer
• Giving Day—November 28, 2017

Volunteering

• Learn more about us by taking a tour of the Meals on Wheels Meal Center.

• Offer your organization facility as an event/meeting venue.

• Mobilize your organization/employees to assist at Meals on Wheels special events.

• Adopt a route to deliver meals. A commitment of 2 people delivering a route for 2 or 3 days per month is all that is required. Delivery takes about 2 hours.

• Deliver holiday meals.

• Partnership and promotion on your website to support Meals on Wheels by sending to your customer’s information about Meals on Wheels.

• Visionaries in Philanthropy (VIP)—hands on involvement to help seniors who require assistance with chores like weeding, small painting & repair jobs. This group activity (typically on the weekend) can include employees and family members to give back together.

• We Care Packages—We Care packages, cards, and placemats are delivered to seniors. Each holiday and birthday volunteers deliver these bags full of items seniors need. This is a wonderful group activity and is often accompanied by a personal note.
• Items include:
• Lotions
• Socks
• Tissues
• Puzzles
• Pens
• Chapstick
• Mugs
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Shampoo
• Soap

How does your group like to engage with the community? Let us know and we will work with you to make sure that your goals and engagement activity is meaningful to your employees. We love new ideas!

Thank you for your consideration and caring for your community and our homebound seniors.

Esteban Ojeda

Volunteer Coordinator

Meals on Wheels San Diego County

619-278-4011