From: Holly Hagler
Subject: Important update impacting Orange County seniors

As a valued partner, I know you care as much about our elderly neighbors as I do. That’s why I need to make sure you’re aware of this important development.

At the end of this month, millions of Californians will lose increased federal food assistance. Some households will go from $281 in benefits to just $23 … for a month’s worth of food! Add in historic inflation in food costs, and you can see the tragedy that lies ahead.

Our local leaders are calling this impending disaster a “food cliff,” and we cannot allow Orange County older adults to suffer. They will be hit the hardest because most are already struggling with low or fixed incomes. At-risk seniors simply cannot adjust financially to handle added expenses. Instead, they will risk their health—their lives—by going without food.

The need is URGENT and you can help!

Here at Meals on Wheels OC, we are doing everything we can to make sure we can continue to provide meals to every at-risk older adult who comes to us for help. But we’re expecting a huge influx of new requests for meals as soon as benefits expire, and we ALREADY have a waiting list of 300 elderly neighbors in need of meals.

Please, take a moment to make a donation today to ensure we can continue to serve those on our program as well as new requests we anticipate as food benefits end.

Your gift comes at just the right time because a caring donor has provided a $2,500 Matching Gift toward our March for Meals campaign to help us reach twice as many seniors in need. That means you will make a life-giving difference for TWICE as MANY older adults struggling with hunger.

I have NEVER seen such a critical, widespread need for our elderly neighbors. According to the Report on Aging in Orange County 2022, between 113,000 to 200,000 older OC adults may not be getting enough to eat due to economic reasons. With the impending food cliff, we expect this number to jump drastically.

Thank you for marching with us at this important time. We couldn’t do this life-sustaining work without you!

With gratitude,

Holly Hagler
CEO
Meals on Wheels Orange County