Mar. 15: Mayor Todd Gloria Recognizes 14 Million Meals Served to Older Adults by Serving Seniors
March 15, 2022
Contact: Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, Fellow PRSA – Serving Seniors
619-997-2495 or GLF@SAN.RR.COM
MEDIA ADVISORY: Mayor Todd Gloria Recognizes 14 Million Meals Served to Older Adults by Serving Seniors
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 10:45 a.m.
Serving Seniors Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center
1525 4th Avenue, San Diego - MAP
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria will serve meals and present a proclamation highlighting the participation of Serving Seniors in the federal Senior Nutrition Program through the Older Americans Act on its 50th anniversary. Over the past five decades, Serving Seniors has provided more than 13 million meals to tens of thousands of San Diego’s most vulnerable seniors.
CEO Paul Downey and Board Chairman Rob Borthwick will also participate in the event, along with older adults enjoying a special lunch service with a ceremonial cake cutting and a toast.
The Older Americans Act was signed into law in 1965 by President Johnson and was considered one of the most important contributions of aging legislation enacted by Congress. Serving Seniors was one of the original grant recipients and was the first senior nutrition program in San Diego County. Its nutrition program relies on the Older Americans Act for funding assistance.
Serving Seniors has been providing meals at no cost to San Diego’s seniors for 52 years. Its robust nutrition program reduces food insecurity for low-income and homeless older adults and serves as link to receive other vital services including case management, housing, and access to enrichment activities.
Serving Seniors serves meals 365 days a year to seniors in all areas of San Diego County either by direct delivery or hosting seniors at one of its dining sites. In 2021, Serving Seniors served 6,500 seniors, 5,000 of which live within the City of San Diego.
About Serving Seniors
Founded in 1970, Serving Seniors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Diego, California, dedicated to serving low-income adults aged 60 and over. A leader in senior advocacy and programming, Serving Seniors has created an innovative model of comprehensive services including nutrition meals, housing, health and social services and lifelong learning opportunities to hundreds of seniors in need. It is the largest provider of meals to seniors in the county, and one of the only organizations in the nation providing a robust range of services to vulnerable, at-risk older adults.
Serving Seniors President and CEO Paul Downey has been instrumental in the organization’s growth over the past 26 years. Since being appointed the role in 1995, Downey has guided the nonprofit’s innovative efforts to provide supportive services focused on keeping low-income seniors healthy and independent. Under Downey’s leadership, Serving Seniors has grown to provide more 1.7 million nutritious meals and coordinated services to 7,000 older adults each year. Read Serving Seniors’ groundbreaking 2021 report, Senior Homelessness: A Needs Assessment.
