(SEPTEMBER 2025 – WALNUT CREEK, CA) Meals on Wheels Diablo Region (MOW Diablo Region) announced last week that its Breakfast Bag program, which has provided thousands of nutritious morning meals to local seniors since 2020, will conclude on October 2, 2025, due to severe funding cuts.
Launched at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to support vulnerable older adults, the Breakfast Bag program began by serving about 100 food-insecure seniors each week. Over the past five years, it has grown to reach more than 500 clients weekly, with demand continuing to rise.
The program was initially supported through Contra Costa County funding and temporary pandemic relief dollars. However, as the costs of groceries, fuel, and other necessities have steadily increased, demand has far outpaced available resources. Despite best efforts to secure ongoing funding, the program in its current state has become financially unsustainable.
“We know how meaningful this service has been to so many of our clients, and we are actively pursuing new funding opportunities with the hope of bringing the program back in a more tenable way,” said Michelle Hayward, Director of Development and Community Relations at MOW Diablo Region.
While the provision of the Breakfast Bag program is ending, MOW Diablo Region’s flagship home-delivered meal program will continue without interruption, providing more than 1,900 local seniors each week with nutritious meals, safety checks, and support to help them live safely and independently at home.
Recent coverage of the Breakfast Bag program can be viewed on NBC Bay Area News and KTVU Fox 2.
About Meals on Wheels Diablo Region: Meals on Wheels Diablo Region is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization helping over 8,500 seniors each year. Our mission is to enhance the lives of older adults by delivering healthy meals and providing an aray of supportive services that empower seniors to live independently, safely, and with dignity. Our dedicated staff of experts connects seniors with essential services in the county. We work to keep our elderly neighbors nourished, healthy, safe, and independent because we provide more than a meal. EIN: 68-0044205. Learn more about our work here.