Our Advocacy Work
Every day, we have the privilege of serving seniors through Meals on Wheels, folks who can't make it to town hall events or city budget meetings. Being homebound makes it difficult for many of them to participate in government planning and policymaking. Yet, the decisions made at these meetings can affect them significantly, directly impacting their quality of life and ability to age in their homes with dignity.
Our goal is not simply to advocate for the seniors we serve; our mission is to bring their voices directly to those in power. In the past year, we’ve done this by inviting elected officials on delivery routes to meet with clients in their homes. We’ve organized letter-writing campaigns, sent heartfelt messages through emails, and delivered notes written on paper plates directly to lawmakers. Just recently at an Oakland City Council meeting, seven passionate advocates testified on behalf of SOSMOW, sharing powerful stories from our clients and highlighting the urgent need for continued support.
For some of these seniors, communication can be challenging, but their determination and passion always shines through. We honor that spirit in every connection we make and every story we share.
And it works! Just last week, we celebrated an incredible victory as Oakland’s City Council passed a FY25-2027 budget that fully restores funding for our essential city contracts that had been canceled during the city's budget crisis. We are deeply grateful to the City Council for investing in the health and dignity of older Oaklanders, and to our dedicated volunteer advocates who brought this message to their local government.
Now, we invite you to join us as an advocate for homebound seniors in Alameda County! SOSMOW is assembling a vast network of advocates ready to reach out on behalf of the seniors we serve. In these times of uncertainty and unrest, grassroots action has shown its incredible potential to create change. With a focus on local impact, we’ll ask for your zip code in order to connect you directly with your representatives.
Together, we can be the voice that drives change and fosters a supportive community for our most vulnerable senior neighbors. Your advocacy matters!
Our Impact
59 clients were introduced to elected officials and policymakers through meal delivery ride-alongs.
18 client stories and messages were shared through public testimony and letter-writing campaigns.
33 direct communications were made by SOSMOW volunteers to their local elected officials (to our knowledge, as some may not have been reported).
