Delivering Compassion: Volunteer Circle’s Impact on Seniors

Travyn R., a Pleasanton high school student, first started Volunteer Circle in 2022 in an effort to make volunteerism more accessible, intentional, and community-driven for young people. 

After the pandemic, Travyn noticed that many of his peers shared the desire to get more involved in their community but didn’t always know where to start or how their efforts could make a meaningful impact. Volunteer Circle gives young people a space to come together, work on hands-on philanthropic projects, and see the difference they are making in real time. 

One of the group’s projects that is especially meaningful to Travyn is the Hearts for Seniors Valentine’s Day card campaign. While Valentine’s Day is known as a celebration of love and appreciation, many seniors—especially those living alone—can feel excluded and isolated. Noticing this in his own community, Travyn set out to create a simple but personal initiative to remind older adults that they are valued and cared for on Valentine’s Day. 

By working with Meals on Wheels Diablo Region to distribute the cards, Volunteer Circle can broaden their impact and reach more homebound, socially-isolated seniors in the Mount Diablo area. Each handmade card provides more than a cheerful message. It offers a moment of joy, connection, and compassion. 

“Supporting seniors is especially important to me because they represent a generation whose experiences and contributions have shaped the community we benefit from today,” says Travyn. He looks up to his grandparents and makes it a point to show them love and gratitude, but he recognizes that many seniors do not always receive the same attention. Even a small gesture, like a handwritten card, can brighten someone’s day and remind them that they are not forgotten. 

“If I could share one message directly with the seniors receiving these cards, it would be that they are deeply appreciated. Their lives, stories, and presence in our community matter, and we are grateful for them.” 

Through his philanthropic work with Volunteer Circle and campaigns like Hearts for Seniors, Travyn is inspiring young people to make a meaningful impact while showing compassion for his older neighbors. His efforts are a reminder that thoughtful, intentional service can connect generations and strengthen the fabric of our community. 

Check out some of the handmade cards and the volunteers behind them below!

  Learn more about Volunteer Circle and how you can get involved in the Hearts for Seniors campaign [Here] !

Our 2024-2025 Annual Report just dropped, and we’re so proud of everything it represents. Inside, you’ll find a look at the meals delivered, seniors supported, volunteers who stepped up, and the special events that brought our community together in such meaningful ways. It’s more than numbers, it’s a reflection of the compassion, connection, and commitment that made 2025 so impactful!

Click Here to access our annual report! 

Subaru and its retailers will donate a minimum of $300 to charity, like Meals on Wheels, for every new vehicle leased or sold through January 2, 2026. 

As part of a national partnership with Meals on Wheels America, Subaru of America, Inc. and its retailers will donate a minimum of $300 to a charity, like Meals on Wheels, for every new vehicle leased or sold from November 20, 2025, to January 2, 2026.  

Since the Subaru Share the Love Event began in 2008, Subaru and its participating retailers have donated nearly 5 million meals and helped provide friendly visits to seniors being served by local Meals on Wheels programs across the country.  

“Subaru’s dedication to helping our vulnerable seniors through the Share the Love campaign is admirable and deeply appreciated,” says David Linnell, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Diablo Region. “We are thrilled to be participating again in this long tradition that has had a positive impact in the lives of our seniors.” 

For more information, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/sharethelove    

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. 

Meals on Wheels Diablo Region’s Online Wine Auction Is Now Open! 

Looking to stock up on wine for the holidays while making a difference in your community? Meals on Wheels Diablo Region’s Annual Online Wine Auction is officially open for bidding, and every dollar raised helps provide meals, support, and connection to vulnerable seniors across Contra Costa County. 

This year’s auction features our largest and most exciting selection yet, thanks to the generosity of a longtime local wine collector who donated an incredible assortment of bottles. Participants can bid on full-bodied reds, crisp whites, and unique varieties, including standout selections from Sonoma County’s finest wineries and beyond. 

Whether you’re searching for the perfect holiday gift, filling your wine rack for the season, or simply looking to support a meaningful cause, there’s something for everyone in this year’s catalog. You can even secure your favorite wines instantly using the Buy Now option or try your luck with a Mystery Case, which includes a surprise mix of reds, whites, and dessert wines. 

Every winning bid directly supports Meals on Wheels Diablo Region’s mission to ensure that no senior in our community goes hungry, feels forgotten, or is left behind. Your participation helps us deliver more than just meals — it delivers comfort, safety, and independence to more than 1,800 older adults who rely on our services. 

As we approach the end of the year, your support matters more than ever. With recent funding and SNAP benefit cuts, more seniors are finding themselves on waiting lists for the meals and care they urgently need. By taking part in the Wine Auction, you’re helping End the Wait for Seniors — ensuring that every older adult in our community can receive the nourishment and support they deserve. 

Bidding is open through Monday, November 10th at 10 PM. 
 

Wines can be shipped at the buyer’s expense, picked up in Walnut Creek at our temporary office, or delivered locally. 

Start bidding today and make every sip count: https://live.classy.org/register/wine/d472a2ec-3be1-4ff3-8311-8f705a187e39