Issue 6 / Volume 8 August 2018
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MOWDIABLOREGION.ORG
   
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More people will be fed!
Until recently, California seniors who received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) could not also receive CalFresh assistance. That all changed last month thanks to continued, grassroots advocacy for basic human rights. Effective July 2019, the nearly 500,000 California seniors living on less than $1,980 per month may also qualify for CalFresh.
For the hundreds of MOWDR clients who qualify as low-income, this means easier access to affordable healthy and nutritious food.
Thank you to everyone who helped pass this legislation. Voices make a difference. MOWDR will continue to push for more funding and services for seniors.
You can read more about this legislation below under "Huge Policy Win."
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Volunteers Needed in Far East Contra Costa County
Last month, we announced our assumption of Meals on Wheels routes in Far East Contra Costa County and received tremendous support from the community, including the note below from Senator Steve Glazer.
“It is exciting to hear that seniors in East County will now be able to access the services that Meals On Wheels Diablo Region has been providing to the rest of Contra Costa County for the last 50 years. I encourage anyone who would like to make a significant impact on the lives of our older neighbors to volunteer for this important organization.” – Senator Steve Glazer
With this expansion, MOWDR is now delivering meals in Oakley, Discovery Bay, Brentwood, Byron, and Bethel Island - an addition of 180+ more clients to the thousands of seniors we have served for the past 50 years.
We need your support now more than ever! If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out a volunteer application here or see the flyer for more details. You can also help by spreading the word about our need for volunteers by sharing the flyer on Facebook.
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Just outside the gates of Rossmoor in Walnut Creek is the Church of St. Anne. For many years, the St. Anne’s Society of the Church of St. Anne has contributed financial support toward the mission and work Meals on Wheels Diablo Region does in Contra Costa County. Read more from this month's donor spotlight on St. Anne's parishoner, John L. here.
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Walnut Creek Lyft Program
The City of Walnut Creek has partnered with the ride sharing app Lyft to expand its transportation services for older adults. In addition to the Senior Mini Bus program, the Lyft pilot program will provide rides outside of regular mini bus hours, allowing members the freedom to get where they need to be within the borders of Walnut Creek.
Lyft rides are free of charge for qualifying Senior Club members. This is made possible by a generous two-year grant from TRANSPAC, the Transportation Partnership and Cooperation for Contra Costa County. For more information and eligibility click here.
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Volunteer Appreciation Event
Our volunteers mean the world to us, so we are excited to announce our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event! This year's celebration will be a harvest festival complete with seasonal bites, drinks, and fun at the Brentwood Community Center on Thursday, November 1, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. To say thanks to our "tea-riffic" volunteers, save-the-date cards with delicious tea bags are being handed out to volunteers this week. Stop by the MOWDR office to pick up your save-the-date goodie and stay tuned for more information. We can't wait to celebrate our amazing volunteers!
Special thanks to the iServe group at Life Church in Concord for helping up put our goodies together!
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Five hundred thousand older and disabled adults will have access to CalFresh starting in the Summer 2019.
California Assembly Bill 1811 reverses the CalFresh eligibility policy known as “cash-out” under which Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients in California are ineligible for CalFresh.
This means more money to feed people. SSI recipients will soon be eligible for CalFresh as well. The average monthly SSI check for a single senior is $910. Monthly CalFresh awards for seniors average $100.
Meals on Wheels California, along with MOWDR, fought hard for this policy change. Proof that local advocacy works! Read more about our advocacy efforts here.
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Join the Meals on Wheels Diablo Region Team!
We're looking for a Meals on Wheels Delivery Associate,
Marketing Specialist, Care Manager, and Care Manager Associate.
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See what Meals on Wheels Diablo Region has been up to this past month in our new gallery! Click here to enjoy our photos.
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Welcome to the Meals on Wheels Diablo Region family of volunteers! Click here to see the list of our newest volunteers.
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Check out upcoming Meals on Wheels Diablo Region and other community events coming near you! Click here to learn more.
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Special thank you to our generous donors who have given in tribute or in memory of their loved ones. Click here to see the list.
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Read recent articles featuring MOWDR in the Martinez Patch and the Brentwood Press. Also, check out our latest press release about MOWDR joining the Evidence-Based Leadership Council (EBLC).
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Discover alternative ways to stay active, healthy, and happy in our new "Artful Aging" blog. Click here to get delicious peach recipes!
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