Yes but we give clients an opportunity to donate for their meals if they wish. The suggested donation is $3 per meal. Donations are purely voluntary, anonymous, and confidential.

About Meals that
Connect

Q: How do I get a friend or loved one on the program?

It is wonderful to have meal client referrals, however, we do need to speak to the client when conducting our intake process. We are happy to provide you with the information you need to help get them on the program but we will eventually need to speak directly with the senior client.

Q: Are you a San Luis Obispo County Government Agency?

No. While our central kitchen is located in a county building and we receive some grant support from the county, we are not part of the county. We are an independently run, charitable, nonprofit organization.

Q: Are you Meals on Wheels?

No. We are not Meals on Wheels or any other name. We are the senior nutrition program of SLO County, doing business as Meals That Connect. Meals on Wheels are not federally funded and do not follow the same nutritional and eligibility guidelines that we follow.

Q: Are you a nonprofit organization?

Yes. We receive some funding from the federal government, which also sets eligibility and nutritional guidelines. This funding only covers about 1/3 of our expenses. Other funding is from SLO county, cities, other grants and business. We conduct ongoing community fundraising.

Q: Do you provide meals 7 days per week, including holidays?

We provide a midday meal, Monday through Friday. Frozen meals are available for weekends, holidays and for persons to pick up that live outside of our delivery area.

Q: How do I qualify for the program?

To be eligible for dining room meals, you only need to be 60 years old. Registration and meal reservations are a required part of start-up.

Q: Can I volunteer to drive meals only 1 day per week?

Yes. Our site managers work with a variety of volunteer schedules to fulfill the delivery of all of their routes. They will work with you!

Q: Can you leave my meal outside my front door?

No. For food safety reasons, we never leave food outside unless you have a small refrigerator we can put the meal into.

Q: How do I qualify for the home delivery meal program?

To be eligible for home delivery you must have a medical qualification that makes you homebound. A site manager will conduct an onsite intake interview with you to verify a need for home delivery.

More healthy food, social interactions, and independence for seniors in the SLO Community.

Our Meals Program

Meals that Connect is the Senior Nutrition Program of San Luis Obispo County. Every weekday, Meals That Connect provides free, healthy, noontime meals to over 1,000 seniors 60+ throughout San Luis Obispo County.

Seniors gather at one of ten Countywide dining sites to dine together, exchange stories, and develop friendships. Volunteer drivers deliver meals to seniors who are unable to leave their homes, provide regular companionship, and utilize these frequent visits to check on the elders' safety. (new paragraph) The Senior Nutrition Program will serve any senior, age 60 or older, who asks for our service regardless of income. We serve free noontime meals, in congregate settings at our 10 dining sites or delivered to seniors’ homes, Monday through Friday, with frozen meals for weekends and holidays. We currently serve a total of around 2300 program clients, although not all of them receive meals daily. Our target population is anyone over 60 years of age who requests our service. Obviously, there are many seniors in the county who do not need our program, but there are increasing numbers who do.

Our Impact

There is a pressing need among many of our county's seniors for our program. The Senior Nutrition Program addresses two critical health impact areas: food access and healthy aging. Our meals not only address food access but also provide nutritious meals to seniors, helping them maintain their health from the comfort of their own homes. The daily visits from our volunteers provide social contact and a safety check. The return to congregate dining gives seniors a chance to build friendships.

Age of our Clients

San Luis Obispo County has a higher percentage of residents over 60 than the state or national average. According to the 2020 census, 20% of San Luis Obispo County residents are over 65. The California Department of Aging predicts an 89% increase in the population of residents over 65 by the year 2060.

Among our program clients, 60% are women, and among them, half live alone. The majority of our clients, around 38%, are women living at or below the poverty level

Age 60 -75

Age 75 - 84

Age 85+

Program Evolution

1963

President Kennedy spearheaded the Older Americans Act with members of the National Council of Senior Citizens. The month of May was designated as "Senior Citizens Month," the prelude to "Older Americans Month."

1963

1965

Older Americans Act was signed into law on July 14, 1965. It established the Administration on Aging within the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and called for the creation of State Units on Aging.

1965

1974

Government funding, designated to provide nutrition for senior citizens, first became available. State and County designated entities were established to manage this programming. This was the birth of the Area Agency on Aging.

1974

As a result of the Older Americans Act, California began receiving funding for senior nutrition programs. In San Luis Obispo, the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) managed the program until 1981.

1974

1981

The Economic Opportunity Commission (EOC), now CAPSLO, took over the San Luis Obispo Senior Nutrition Program. The EOC struggled to make the program financially sustainable for 10 years before handing it back over to the AAA

1981

1991

The SLO Senior Nutrition Program (SNP) incorporated as a non-governmental entity, incorporated as a charitable organization with a board of directors and its own small staff. The organization continued to struggle financially for another 15 years.

1991

2006

Elias Nimeh, previous owner of the restaurant Tortilla Flats, took over the nonprofit. He was able to sharpen costs, achieve augmented funding opportunities, and make the program grow and thrive to the level it is today.

2006

2016

October, 2016, Verdin Marketing company rebranded SNP as Meals That Connect with their 24-hour makeover donation. The program continues strongly today - serving up to 206,500 meals during the 2021 COVID pandemic. The program has been helped mightily by a generous annual sponsorship from CENCAL Health.

2016

1963

1965

1974

1981

1991

2006

2016

As a result of the Older Americans Act, California began receiving funding for senior nutrition programs. In San Luis Obispo, the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) managed the program until 1981.

Our People

The Meals That Connect team is committed to alleviating stress on seniors by delivering consistent nutrition and compassion every weekday of the year.

Meet Our Team

Client Testimonials

"The food is really good!"

Carol

"We are like family. We care about each other and check in every day."

Ross

"My home delivery meals are the only company I get every day. It is the only sunshine in my life."

Anna

"I never miss chicken enchilada day!"

Steve

"Since my wife passed, I started dining with other seniors who are now my great friends."

Jerry

"I used to eat potato salad every day. It was easy but unhealthy. Now I eat a balanced meal every day."

John

"We eat lunch and then stay and play games for two hours here at the senior center. It gets me out of the house."

Betty

"I'm a steak and potatoes guy, but I make myself eat the fruits and vegetables they serve me. I want to be healthy."

Mike

"I don't know what I would do without you and this program. You make my heart smile." (said to her delivery driver)

Ellie

"Its a good day because you showed up."

James

"I've been independent all my life and I never wanted to say this out loud but - I couldn't do without this program."

Sally

Frequently Asked Questions

Got a question? Get your answer.

How do I get a friend or loved one on the program?

Are you a San Luis Obispo County Government Agency?

Are you Meals on Wheels?

Are you a nonprofit organization?

Do you provide meals 7 days per week, including holidays?

How do I qualify for the program?

Can I volunteer to drive meals only 1 day per week?

Can you leave my meal outside my front door?

How do I qualify for the home delivery meal program?

Are meals free?

Can I order meals from you for another program?

Our Supporters

We value our sponsors and partners! Support provided by corporations and alliance partners allows us to grow our services, expand our reach and keep our programs thriving.

Meet Our Supporters

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