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.

Meals on Wheels America has unveiled MeMaw Is Waiting, a nationwide advocacy campaign designed to draw attention to the growing challenges faced by older Americans and the community organizations that provide Meals on Wheels services. With nearly 14 million seniors experiencing food insecurity, rising operating expenses and reductions in critical senior assistance programs are driving demand for meal delivery services to unprecedented levels.

A major factor behind the crisis is the persistent underfunding of federal senior nutrition initiatives. Most Meals on Wheels providers depend heavily on the Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Program, which supports the delivery of nutritious meals while also helping combat isolation through regular social interaction. However, funding has not kept pace with increasing demand, leaving many older adults without access to essential services.

Through the MeMaw Is Waiting campaign, Meals on Wheels America aims to spotlight the growing number of seniors left waiting for assistance because of limited federal resources. Budget constraints have forced local providers to make difficult decisions, including reducing meal delivery routes, suspending services, creating or expanding waiting lists, cutting delivery schedules or, in some cases, shutting down operations altogether. Approximately 90% of Meals on Wheels providers receive federal funding, and for 60% of them, it accounts for at least half of their operating budget.

The campaign also encourages grassroots action by urging citizens to contact their congressional representatives in support of stronger federal investment. As lawmakers prepare the FY 2027 appropriations budget, Meals on Wheels America is requesting an increase in funding for the OAA Nutrition Program (Title III-C) from the current $1.059 billion to $2.285 billion. According to the organization, the additional funding would help sustain services for the 2.6 million seniors currently assisted each year while extending support to another 2.5 million low-income, food-insecure older adults who remain underserved.

Explaining the initiative, Ellie Hollander, President and Chief Executive Officer of Meals on Wheels America, said the campaign is intended to remind people that every statistic represents a real individual. She emphasized that when local providers are overwhelmed by limited resources, it is grandparents, relatives and other elderly loved ones who bear the consequences, underscoring the urgent need for action.

Meals on Wheels America also argues that increasing investment in senior nutrition programs is not only compassionate but also economically prudent. The organization points to the significant healthcare costs associated with preventable issues affecting older adults, including falls, social isolation and food insecurity. By providing regular meals, wellness checks and social engagement, Meals on Wheels helps reduce emergency room visits, hospital admissions and readmissions, while enabling more seniors to remain safely in their homes instead of requiring long-term institutional care.

The campaign concludes with a call for public support, urging Americans to encourage Congress to increase funding for Meals on Wheels and help eliminate waiting lists so that more seniors can receive the meals, care and companionship they need.

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