No Senior Should Have to Wait: Nancy’s Story
When you meet Nancy, the first thing you notice is her spirit. She’s open, warm, and full of stories shaped by a lifetime of resilience.
Nancy grew up in Los Altos and Cupertino and married young, right out of high school. Her husband served in the Navy, and the long stretches of time apart eventually strained the relationship, leaving Nancy on her own in her early twenties. She learned quickly how to support herself—working in the service industry, managing restaurants, and eventually becoming co-owner of a pizza shop before she turned 25. Later, as a single mother, she worked hard to provide stability for her daughter.
In 2018, after her mother passed away, Nancy moved to Antioch and into the apartment she inherited. The change offered a more affordable life, but then in 2020, things took an unexpected turn.
On a stormy morning in her apartment complex parking lot, Nancy slipped in the heavy rain and fell hard. She had broken both of her hips. Because of the pandemic lockdown and the poor weather, no one was outside to see her fall, and she had to crawl back to her apartment to call for help.
Recovery should have followed, but the pandemic complicated every part of her medical care. Delayed treatment and limited access to rehabilitation left Nancy with long-term mobility challenges that made living alone incredibly difficult. She had already stopped driving before her fall, but suddenly she couldn’t even walk to the store—a small but important part of her routine that helped her maintain independence. The financial strain of medical bills added another layer of stress, and some days she went without food entirely.
Then, something unexpected gave her hope.
One morning, Nancy noticed a Meals on Wheels Diablo Region van parked outside her building and learned that her neighbor received home-delivered meals. She thought, “That sounds like something that could help me.” She called our office, and for the first time in weeks, started to feel some relief.
Soon after, a MOW Diablo Region volunteer began delivering nutritious meals and providing regular safety checks. “It was such a relief,” Nancy says. “I didn’t have to worry about what I was going to eat anymore. I didn’t feel forgotten.”
Five years later, Nancy is still receiving the weekly meals that bring her sustenance and security. She has had both hips replaced, and her mobility is steadily improving. She continues to live on a limited income and no longer drives, but she faces each day with remarkable optimism. She keeps a routine, stays mentally active, and leans on the small but strong support system around her: her daughter in the South Bay, a helpful neighbor who sometimes drives her to the grocery store, and the MOW Diablo Region volunteer she now considers a friend.
“I don’t see the point in being negative,” she says. “You just put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.”
Nancy’s story is a powerful reminder of why no senior should have to wait for the meals and services they need to stay healthy, safe, and independent. When older adults are forced to wait — because of limited resources, long lists, or lack of support — the consequences can be devastating. Hunger, isolation, and preventable health crises become daily risks.
When you support Meals on Wheels Diablo Region, you help ensure that seniors like Nancy don’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from. You make it possible to End the Wait™ and change someone’s life.