This week, Vivalon welcomed elected officials from across Marin and beyond to participate in Champions Week, an annual event that brings community leaders onto meal delivery routes to experience

This week, Vivalon welcomed elected officials from across Marin and beyond to participate in Champions Week, an annual event that brings community leaders onto meal delivery routes to experience firsthand the impact of home-delivered nutrition services.   Over the course of the week, participants loaded meals, knocked on doors, shared conversations, and met the older adults and people with disabilities who rely on Vivalon’s nutrition programs. Along the way, they saw something our staff and volunteers witness every day: meal delivery is about much more than food. It’s about connection, care, and helping people remain healthy and independent in the homes they love.     This year’s Champions Week participants included U.S. Congressman Jared Huffman, Fairfax Mayor Stephanie Hellman, San Anselmo Mayor Steve Burdo, Marin County Supervisors Eric Lucan and Mary Sackett, San Rafael Councilmember Rachel Kertz, Novato Councilmember Pat Eklund, and Assemblymember Damon Connolly.   For many recipients, a meal delivery is also a friendly visit, a wellness check, and a reminder that someone in the community cares. Champions Week offers elected officials a unique opportunity to see these moments firsthand and learn more about the growing need for nutrition services throughout Marin.     That need continues to increase. Since 2016, Vivalon’s home-delivered nutrition programs have grown significantly, with the number of participants served increasing by 55% and the number of meals delivered increasing by 69%. In 2026 alone, Vivalon provided 123,613 home-delivered meals through its Meals on Wheels and Nourish programs to 774 older adults and people with disabilities.   What stood out most during the week were the simple but meaningful interactions at doorsteps across Marin: smiles, conversations, words of appreciation, and the connections formed between neighbors who may never have met otherwise.   “Vivalon is providing so much more than food,” says San Rafael Councilmember Rachel Kertz. “They are providing a touch point that is so important. They are delivering food to folks who live alone and don’t have much contact with the outside world.”   We are grateful to each of the elected officials who joined us for Champions Week and took the time to learn more about the people we serve. Their participation helps shine a light on the importance of nutrition services and the role they play in helping older adults and people with disabilities thrive.   Thank you to our staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners who make this work possible every day. Together, we’re delivering more than meals—we’re delivering nourishment, connection, and peace of mind.   Take a look at highlights from the week here.   Want to be part of the impact?   Volunteer Help bring nourishment, connection, and care to older adults and people with disabilities throughout Marin. Contact us at [email protected] or 415-456-9067 to sign up today, or click here for more info.   Donate Help ensure older adults and people with disabilities continue to receive the meals and support they depend on every day. Make a donation here.   Join the Team Help deliver nutritious meals and meaningful connection to older adults and people with disabilities by joining our team as a Home-Delivered Meals Specialist. Learn more and apply here.