Operation Pathways has secured a 2026 Thome Aging Well Grant to launch its Strengthening Food Access for Older Adults initiative in Baltimore, Maryland. The organization is among 24 nonprofit groups in Maryland and Michigan collectively receiving $3.8 million to help lower-income older adults remain safely and independently in their homes while aging with dignity.

A subsidiary of The NHP Foundation, Operation Pathways delivers on-site resident services at 33 affordable housing communities across 10 states and the District of Columbia. Its programs are designed to support seniors, families, and individuals in achieving greater stability, health, and long-term well-being.

For older residents, these on-site services play a vital role in helping them age in place by reducing social isolation, strengthening housing stability, and connecting them with essential resources. In Maryland alone, more than 45,000 older adults experience food insecurity due to fixed incomes, increasing living expenses, limited access to grocery stores, and transportation barriers.

Through the new grant, Resident Services Coordinators at The Bolton North Apartments and The Terraces at Park Heights in Baltimore will expand initiatives aimed at improving food access for seniors. Planned efforts include enhanced enrollment and renewal assistance for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), expanded food pantry services and home-delivered food boxes, and community-led shared meals that encourage social engagement among residents.

Established in 2022 by Enterprise Community Partners with support from the Edward N. and Della L. Thome Memorial Foundation, administered by Bank of America as trustee, the Thome Aging Well program follows a trust-based philanthropy model. This approach empowers local organizations to respond quickly and effectively to the specific needs of the communities they serve.

Stephany De Scisciolo, Enterprise's Vice President of Impact, Evaluation and Population Health, emphasized that the funding provides community organizations with the flexibility to tailor solutions to local challenges. She noted that entrusting resources to experienced, community-based partners helps maximize the program's impact by enabling older adults to continue living safely and comfortably in the neighborhoods they call home.

Since its inception, the Thome Aging Well initiative has distributed more than $23 million to 66 community, government, and tribal organizations. The program has benefited over 14,000 older adults through home modifications that support aging in place, workforce development and training, preventive health services, food access and delivery programs, and a broad range of additional support services.

Duke Energy has launched a new campaign to promote $200,000 in grant funding for South Carolina organizations that provide services and support to the state’s aging population, especially those facing financial difficulties.

“Nonprofits serving South Carolina’s low-income seniors have reported increased demand for their services in recent years,” said Tim Pearson, Duke Energy’s South Carolina state president. “With an aging population living longer and the rising cost of living, it’s crucial that we ensure seniors, who have contributed so much to our communities, have the resources they need to enjoy their later years with dignity.”

Eligible nonprofits assisting low-income seniors can apply for one-time grants of up to $10,000 through the Duke Energy Foundation to support general operating expenses. These funds cannot be used for weatherization or utility assistance, but can support services such as home-delivered meals, transportation, home modifications, and other programs aimed at maintaining seniors’ safety and independence.

This funding is available exclusively to nonprofit organizations, not individuals. Organizations interested in applying can find more details and submit applications at duke-energy.com/SeniorAssistance. The deadline for applications is January 28.

This initiative builds on previous efforts by the Duke Energy Foundation to support organizations that aid seniors in the state. In 2023, the foundation awarded grants of up to $20,000 to 15 qualifying nonprofits to fund home repairs that help seniors remain in their homes. In 2024, an additional $100,000 in grants was given to 13 organizations with programs providing home ramps for low-income seniors and those with disabilities.

“The response to our past grant announcements has been overwhelming, revealing the vast and diverse needs of these organizations,” said Amanda Dow, director of the Duke Energy Foundation in South Carolina. “We’ve learned that these organizations offer a wide range of essential services, all of which require funding. That’s why this new program is focused on supporting general operations, allowing these organizations to quickly direct funds where they are most needed.”

Many of the seniors who benefit from these programs also face challenges in covering other household expenses, including their electricity bills.

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