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THE BEACON. From Senior Coastsiders, September, 2026 by Senior Coastsiders Executive Director, Sandra Winters.
Senior Coastsiders is a member of Meals on Wheels America which is a membership and advocacy organization – we pay annual dues to belong to this national network, but they don’t fund or subsidize the meals themselves; every meal served on the Coastside is made possible through revenue we generate from grants and generous donors.
Each August, Meals on Wheels network members across the country gather at the Annual Conference to compare notes, learn from research, and bring home ideas that make local programs stronger. I attended this year’s conference, and I want to share a few takeaways that connect directly to the work we do here on the Coast – and to you, our participants, volunteers, and supporters.
What does a meal really cost?
One session tackled a surprisingly hard question: what does it actually cost to prepare and deliver a meal to an older adult’s door or serve in the dining room? The most recent national meal cost data are very outdated and come from a 2015 government survey. Even accounting for inflation, costs have risen substantially since then. This matters because accurate cost data helps organizations like ours make the case for funding, negotiate fair contracts, and plan responsibly for the future. Meals on Wheels America is now gathering input from providers nationwide, including us, to build a more current and reliable picture.
Better data means better care
Meals on Wheels have pilot tested a new framework called Core Client Insights to assess each client’s needs more thoroughly – not just food security, but social connection, mobility, and overall health. Programs piloting this approach report that it helps them prioritize services for those who need them most, spot problems earlier, and demonstrate real outcomes (not just meal counts) to funders. Adopting Core Client Insights nationally would help meal providers consistently target services to those with the greatest need, demonstrate credible, outcomes-based impact (rather than just outputs) to funders and policymakers, and benchmark results across the network to build a stronger, unified case for sustained investment and support. We’re exploring how tools like this can help strengthen our meal program on the Coast.
The future of volunteering
Volunteers are the heart of Meals on Wheels: nationally, over 260,000 people donate more than 300,000 hours a week delivering meals and companionship.
At Senior Coastsiders, just over 120 people donated more than 10,000 hours last fiscal year to prepare, serve and deliver over 68,000 meals.
A national research initiative shared at the conference found that volunteers today are looking for more flexible scheduling, a clearer sense of purpose, and genuine belonging, not just a shift to fill. Here on the Coast, we strive to ensure that our volunteers feel genuinely connected to the people and mission they’re serving, not just fitting into a schedule.
Telling our story well
A session on data and storytelling was a helpful reminder that facts alone don’t move people; the right facts, told to the right audience, do. Whether we’re talking with a donor, a policymaker, a healthcare partner, or a neighbor curious about our programs, the story we tell should speak to what matters most to them: independence, dignity, health, and community.
Why this matters
Every idea shared at this conference ultimately serves the same goal: making sure older adults on the Coast – from Montara to Pescadero – get the meals, rides, and connection they need to live independently and with dignity. As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2027, we’re using everything we learn to build an even stronger organization for the next 50 years. Thank you for being part of that story.
Senior Coastsiders Executive Director, Sandra Winters
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