MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Yuba River Endowment donated $25,000 to Meals on Wheels Yuba & Sutter Counties to help bridge funding gaps and provide meals for some of Yuba County’s most vulnerable older adults.

Meals on Wheels Yuba & Sutter Counties delivers five nutritionally balanced meals per week to 120 homebound residents in Yuba County. Meals are prepared in partnership with local restaurants, including Pete’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, 2 Bits Café and Las Brasas Mexican Restaurant, under the guidance of a registered dietitian. Volunteers delivering meals also provide welfare checks, social interaction and resource referrals.

“A knock at the door might not seem like much,” said Meals on Wheels Yuba & Sutter Counties program manager Teja Payne. “But for a homebound senior, it could be the only person they’ll interact with all day. Meals on Wheels brings nourishment and connection to our aging neighbors.”

Meals on Wheels Yuba & Sutter Counties has seen a surge in demand, with 61 new clients added during the pandemic. With the end of COVID relief funds, this donation from the Yuba River Endowment will further support the program as new resources are secured.

“Beyond our current clients, we have 75 older adults on a waitlist,” Payne added.

“The endowment has supported local food banks and pantries for years but we were unaware of this critical need,” said Yuba River Endowment Board Member Mike Filice. “We’re honored to help Teja and her volunteers make a difference in the lives of these seniors.”

Founded in 2019, the Yuba River Endowment is a nonprofit organization created by Yuba County farmers who occasionally transfer surplus water to drought-stricken areas, using the proceeds to support local causes. To date, the Yuba River Endowment has donated more than $1 million to initiatives, such as ag education, food security and scholarships.

To learn more about Meals on Wheels or to donate, visit www.yubasuttermow.org/donate or call 530-670-0033 or [email protected].