March for Meals: Rallying Sandy to Support Seniors at Home
By John Wallace, For The Sandy Standard
March for Meals is our annual community-wide fundraising and awareness campaign held throughout the month of March to support our local Meals on Wheels program. This dedicated effort raises both funds and critical awareness for the growing needs of homebound seniors in the Sandy area.
Throughout the month, we will host raffle baskets, partner with local restaurants who are donating a percentage of sales directly to the program, organize a Bingo and Dinner event with prizes and food sponsored by Taqueria al Jalisciense, and launch a Meals on Wheels sponsorship program. These activities not only generate financial support but also engage the broader community in caring for our older adults.
For more information on campaign events and ways to get involved, please visit:
https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/parks-rec/page/march-meals-campaign
In the Sandy and Boring area, food insecurity is often quiet and goes unseen. Last fiscal year, we served approximately 100 homebound seniors, delivering nearly 10,000 meals throughout the year. For many older adults, food insecurity doesn’t always mean having no food at all — it means skipping meals, stretching groceries beyond what’s healthy, or choosing inexpensive, low-nutrient options because they’re living on fixed incomes. It also means facing barriers like limited mobility, lack of transportation, or health conditions that make grocery shopping and cooking difficult. Many of the seniors we serve are aging in place, determined to remain independent — and reliable meal delivery makes that possible.
Demand for services has remained steady; however, funding for these programs has diminished. That’s what makes fundraising efforts like March for Meals so important. While the number of seniors needing meals has not declined, available resources have become tighter. Rising food costs, transportation expenses, and operational costs make it more challenging to maintain the same level of service without strong community support.
Through a contract with Clackamas County, we receive federal Older Americans Act (OAA) funds to help support our Meals on Wheels program, but these funds do not cover the full cost of operating the program.
We are reimbursed $2.65 per meal for seniors living outside Sandy city limits and $3.65 per meal for seniors living inside city limits.
While this reimbursement is essential, it does not cover the total cost of organizing and preparing the meals, staff time for case management and eligibility coordination, volunteer recruitment and coordination, route planning and oversight, or administrative and operational support.
When you consider the true cost of organizing, preparing, managing, and delivering meals to some of our community’s most under-served residents, it becomes clear why fundraising efforts are so critical to sustain the program at its current capacity.
It’s also important to note that Meals on Wheels is a free program for eligible seniors. While voluntary donations are encouraged from those who are able to contribute, no one is ever denied a meal based on their ability to pay. Community donations help fill the gap between federal reimbursement and the actual cost of providing high-quality, reliable service.
Beyond nutrition, Meals on Wheels Sandy is more than a meal — it is often a senior’s most consistent connection to the outside world. The interaction with our volunteer drivers provides meaningful human contact, conversation, and reassurance. For many participants, that brief visit is a highlight of their day.
Being part of the Meals on Wheels program also means being connected to a broader support system. Participants are included in our case management services, which include annual home visits, regular check-ins, reassurance calls when needed, and access to other vital community resources.
In this way, the program supports not only physical health through nutrition, but also emotional well-being, safety, and continued independence. Every local donation helps ensure we can continue delivering nutritious meals — and connection — to seniors who depend on us.
Financial contributions are incredibly impactful — especially as funding has diminished. Donations help us continue to serve approximately 100 local seniors, delivering nearly 10,000 meals annually.
Even small recurring donations provide stability and sustainability for the program.
Sandy is a close-knit community where many seniors have lived, worked, and raised families for decades. They helped build the community we enjoy today. Supporting them as they age honors that legacy and ensures they can remain safely and independently in their homes.
When we care for our seniors, we strengthen the entire community. Ultimately, success means stability — knowing we can continue delivering meals and connection to those who rely on us.