FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PVI Nutrition Services Recaps a Successful Year During March for Meals Event
Menlo Park, CA – Thursday, March 20, 2025
Peninsula Volunteers, Inc. (PVI) successfully concluded its annual March for Meals campaign, a month-long initiative dedicated to raising awareness and support for senior nutrition programs in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Throughout March, volunteers, community leaders, and supporters joined forces to deliver meals, engage in advocacy, and raise critical funds to combat senior hunger and isolation.
The campaign culminated in PVI’s annual Community Champions Breakfast, where PVI extended appreciation to all volunteers, donors, sponsors, and community partners who aid PVI in its mission of enabling seniors to age in place. Highlights of the event included:
Keynote Address by Congressman Sam Liccardo
Congressman Sam Liccardo spoke on the funding troubles facing non-profits such as PVI, why dedicating resources to seniors is crucial, and ways to advocate for causes that matter. Additionally, Congressman Liccardo touched on expressing gratitude and the willingness to fight for what is right.
A Year in Review from Nutrition Services Director, Stephanie Figeira
Stephanie Figeira followed Congressman Sam Liccardo’s address by outlining the milestones reached within the last fiscal year such as delivering over 160,000 meals, distributing over 190,000 pounds of food, maximizing all route capacity, and expanding into Santa Clara County.
Spotlights from Long-Time Volunteers
Volunteers are the heart of PVI. At the end of the event, the floor was opened to all those who have given their time and dedication to PVI’s cause. The room was fortunate enough to hear from community partner Lawrence Cappel, Chair of Peninsula Health Care District, and long-time volunteers Stephanie Dauer and Michelle Naber-Smedley highlight the impact they’ve witnessed firsthand.
“PVI Meals on Wheels is more than just delivering food; it’s about providing a lifeline to those that have given our community so much,” said Stephanie Figeira, Director of Nutrition Services of PVI. “The overwhelming support we received from our community demonstrates the deep commitment to ensuring no senior goes hungry or feels alone. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has continuously contributed to the success of our program.”
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March for Meals annually commemorates the historic day in March 1972, when President Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 and established a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older. Since 2002, Meals on Wheels programs from across the country have joined forces for the annual awareness campaign to celebrate this successful public-private partnership and garner the community support needed to bridge the gap for those still in need of daily nutritious meals.
About PVI Meals on Wheels:
PVI’s Meals on Wheels (MOW) delivers freshly prepared nutritious meals each day to homebound, isolated older adults in San Mateo County who are unable to shop and cook for themselves. Many are frail, recovering from hospitalization, or are disabled. More than 60% of our clients have incomes below federal poverty levels and often live alone – making our MOW deliverer the only person to give a smile and a hug to an isolated senior. Our volunteers and PVI staff deliver over 175,000 meals annually to our clients.
About Peninsula Volunteers, Inc. (PVI)
For over 75 years, Peninsula Volunteers, Inc., has demonstrated a profound legacy of caring for and enabling seniors to age in place, a commitment to providing high-quality and nurturing programs so seniors are engaged, cared for, and respected as vital community members. PVI’s five core programs are: Nutrition Services/Meals on Wheels/Got Groceries/Little House Café; Adult Day Services at Rosener House for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias; Quiescence, our customized solutions for family caregivers; our Senior Activity Center at Little House, The Roslyn G. Morris Activity Center; and RIDE PVI, our on-demand transportation services at Little House for daily access to where seniors want to go. PVI programs deliver over $6 million in services to over 6,500 households and address the most pressing issues of aging adults by offering critical services to sustain their daily physical, nutritional, emotional, and mental health while achieving dignity and independence in their lives.
For more information on volunteer opportunities at PVI and to make donations to support PVI’s Meals on Wheels program for seniors, visit www.1pvi.org
Media Contact:
Rebecca Matteson Nelson, Director of Development
650-272-5002 | [email protected]
