With more than 360 Union County seniors on the waitlist for home-delivered meals as of June 13, 2025, a new partnership is providing immediate relief and restoring hope to some of our community's most vulnerable residents. 

In May, Union County's Senior Nutrition Program began collaborating with Food for Families NC, a nonprofit based in Indian Trail, to deliver weekly bags of groceries to seniors who are waiting for permanent placement in the County's home-delivered meals program. The food deliveries include a variety of easy-to-prepare, nutritious items such as frozen entrees, shelf-stable milk, fresh bread, fruit, and lean proteins.

"This effort is about more than food. It's about dignity," said Emily Colson, Program Manager with Union County Community Support and Outreach. "We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Food for Families. Their support is bridging a critical gap in services and making a life-changing difference in the lives of seniors who might otherwise go without."

One senior who recently began receiving food through the program became emotional on the phone, sharing that they had been surviving on just a couple of pieces of bread with peanut butter each day. With limited family nearby and few other options, the weekly deliveries have meant better nutrition and renewed peace of mind.

The partnership began after Food for Families NC presented at a February Board of County Commissioners meeting. Their work in Monroe delivering food to low-income seniors caught the attention of Union County staff, who saw an opportunity to expand that model to seniors on the County's nutrition waitlist.

"We are excited to partner with Union County Senior Nutrition Program to provide supplemental nutrition that supports the health and well-being of seniors so they may continue to live healthy and independent lives," said Amy Niccolai, Executive Director of Food for Families NC. "The items we include are chosen not just for their nutritional value but also for ease of use. Many of our seniors are preparing these meals alone."

Deliveries are made directly to seniors' homes, initially by staff using Food for Families' refrigerated van. Moving forward, the program will rely heavily on volunteers to help package and deliver the food weekly or bi-weekly, depending on each senior's needs. The organization hopes to establish permanent delivery routes as the partnership grows.

While this collaboration does not yet eliminate the full waitlist for Senior Nutrition services, it is a meaningful step in the right direction. Additionally, the Board of County Commissioners approved additional funding for the Senior Nutrition program in the fiscal year 2026 budget to reduce the waitlist. Several municipalities within Union County have also committed funding toward the program to help serve the seniors living within their municipal limits, including: Lake Park, Mineral Springs, Wesley Chapel, Marvin, Weddington, and Wingate.

Learn more about Union County's Senior Nutrition Program at unioncountync.gov/senior-nutrition.