Silver Key Senior Services Hosts “Champions Week” March 23–24 To Rally Community Support For Meals On Wheels - 03/09/26

Colorado Springs, Colo. – On March 23 and 24, Silver Key will welcome community members for a two-day Champions Week event in support of its Meals on Wheels program and broader elder nutrition efforts. Volunteers from across the Pikes Peak region will help prepare and deliver nutritious meals to local elders, shining a light on the growing issues of elder hunger and isolation.

Champions Week aligns with national efforts led by Meals on Wheels America to raise awareness and advocate for stronger support of elder nutrition programs. Locally, Silver Key’s Meals on Wheels program delivers more than a meal—it provides safety checks, social connection and reassurance to older adults who wish to age independently at home.

“Champions Week is about showing our elders that they are valued and not forgotten,” said Jason DeaBueno, President & CEO of Silver Key. “When volunteers step into our kitchens and onto delivery routes, they see firsthand how essential these meals and visits are. It’s nutrition, yes—but it’s also connection, dignity and independence.”

In addition to preparing Meals on Wheels, volunteers will also help prepare nutritious food for Silver Key’s Connections Café, expanding the impact of Champions Week to elders who gather for affordable community meals and fellowship. Silver Key’s food pantry is another vital way older adults access the groceries and supplemental nutrition they need to remain healthy and independent.

Meeting Growing Needs

As food and fuel costs rise, so does demand for home-delivered meals and other nutrition services. National advocates are urging Congress to increase funding for the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program and protect critical supports such as Medicare and Medicaid home and community-based services, SNAP and community block grants that help sustain local programs.

There is also growing momentum behind “Food Is Medicine” initiatives to expand access to medically tailored meals and address social isolation through coordinated national strategies.

“These policies directly affect whether an elder in Colorado Springs receives a warm meal, access to groceries or a welcoming place to gather,” DeaBueno added.

Media are invited to attend Champions Week on March 23 or 24 to capture volunteers in action and speak with staff about the impact of Meals on Wheels and Silver Key’s broader nutrition programs in our community.

To learn more about volunteering, donating or advocating for elder nutrition, visit www.silverkey.org or www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.