Open Heart Kitchen Joins Meals on Wheels Program

A new partnership developed over the summer to help bolster a critical and prominent food service program. 

Open Heart Kitchen (OHK) teamed up with Spectrum Community Services to become the new meal provider for the Meals on Wheels program serving homebound older adults throughout the Tri-Valley.

Since July 1, OHK has served as the meal production partner for the program, preparing approximately 300 meals each weekday for older adults in Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton and Sunol. At this rate, OHK anticipates preparing approximately 75,000 Meals on Wheels meals annually.

Spectrum continues to manage delivery and the important personal connection and wellness check that comes with bringing a meal to someone's home, according to OHK Executive Director John Bost. 

“For us, this partnership is a great example of what collaboration should look like,” Bost said. “Rather than organizations duplicating infrastructure or trying to do everything themselves, Spectrum and Open Heart Kitchen are each doing what we do well. Together, we're creating a stronger system for seniors in our community.”

“It also represents another major step in Open Heart Kitchen's growth. We have evolved from primarily operating meal programs into a much broader regional food-access organization,” he added. 

The partnership between OHK and Spectrum ensures uninterrupted meal service following the closure of the kitchen previously used to prepare Meals on Wheels meals, allowing Spectrum to continue delivering this essential program without missing a beat, according to a July press release announcing the collaboration. 

“Our friends at Spectrum Community Services have operated the local Meals on Wheels program since 1997. Spectrum Community Services is a trusted lifeline for older adults across the Tri-Valley, delivering more than just meals. Every Meals on Wheels delivery includes a friendly face, a wellness check, and a meaningful connection that helps combat isolation while supporting seniors who wish to age safely in their own homes,” OHK officials wrote in their press release. 

Bost highlighted three points OHK seeks to address through its work. The first is that despite the affluence and prosperity seen throughout the Tri-Valley, hunger does exist in the region. “Prosperity and food insecurity can exist side by side,” Bost said. 

Second, Bost noted that food is about much more than calories.

“A nutritious meal can help an older adult remain independent in their home. A free community meal can give a family enough breathing room to pay the electric bill. Groceries from a food pantry can stretch a paycheck another week. Food provides nourishment, but it also provides stability, dignity, and time,” he said. 

Lastly, Bost further emphasized the importance of partnership and organizations bringing their resources and knowledge together. 

“Partnership is woven into virtually everything Open Heart Kitchen does. Our Meals on Wheels partnership with Spectrum is a perfect example. We don't need to build parallel systems when we can connect organizations, resources and expertise and build something stronger together,” Bost said.

In addition to the Meals on Wheels partnership, OHK is continuing to expand the reach of the Open Heart Food Bank – the Tri-Valley's first local food bank. 

The 19,000-square-foot facility allows the nonprofit to receive, recover, warehouse and distribute food locally and currently supports nine partner pantries throughout the Tri-Valley.

“What excites me most is that these aren't isolated programs. We're building a more connected local food system - from home-delivered meals for seniors, to congregate senior lunches, community meals, groceries distributed through local pantries, and meals and shelter for people experiencing homelessness,” Bost said. 

The opening of the food bank in 2025 marked a major milestone for OHK, which was capped this year by the nonprofit being selected as California Assembly District 16 Nonprofit of the Year by California State Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan.

Currently, OHK’s More Than a Meal matching campaign is underway through October 31. 

The Community Health and Education Foundation (CHEF) is adding a 50% match to every donation made through the campaign. This means a $100 donation becomes $150 for OHK.

All administrative and processing fees are also being covered by CHEF so that each entire donation and the full match will go directly toward supporting OHK.

“This matching campaign gives Hacienda businesses, employees and residents an opportunity to make their generosity go 50% further while directly supporting people here in the Tri-Valley,” Bost said, noting that the demand for food and other basic needs continues to grow as government funding becomes increasingly uncertain. 

Learn more about the campaign and participate at openheartkitchen.org/chef.

For more general information about OHK and its work, visit www.openheartkitchen.org.