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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Acceptance of $10,000 in Meals on Wheels America, Meeting Unmet Need Acceleration, Gift Distribution for Elderly Nutrition Program Home Delivered Meals.
1. Motion to accept $10,000 in Meals on Wheels America Meeting Unmet Need Acceleration Gift Distribution funding for FY 2026-27; and authorize the City Manager or a designee to execute all agreements, certifications, and documents necessary to accept and implement funding.
2. Resolution of Appropriation to appropriate Meals on Wheels America Meeting Unmet Need Acceleration Gift Distribution funding in the amount of $10,000 for the Elderly Nutrition Program.
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Consent Calendar
Approved for August 11, 2026 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Community Services & Parks Department is requesting Council approval to accept $10,000 in Meals on Wheels America (MOWA) Meeting Unmet Need Acceleration Gift Distribution grant for the Elderly Nutrition Program (ENP) for FY 2026-27. Funding will be allocated towards the ENP Home Delivered Meals (C2) program for older adults 60 years of age and older.
Philanthropist Mackenzie Scott made a $70 million unrestricted donation to MOWA, which then granted funds to local agencies. For Glendale, this donation will allow the ENP program to increase the number of staff hours for meal delivery in order to serve approximately 1,000 more meals. Over 80 unduplicated homebound seniors are in the ENP C2 program annually and receive a weekly delivery of seven frozen meals, which include an entrée, sides, bread, fruit, and milk/juice.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council accept the grant distribution and authorize the City Manager to execute all agreements, certifications, and documents necessary to accept and implement funding for MOWA grant funds in FY 2026-27 for ENP C2 program. 5b2
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ANALYSIS
CSP has been providing meal service to older adults 60 years and older in the Greater Glendale Area since 1979 with grant funding administered from Los Angeles County Aging and Disabilities through the federal Older Americans Act. The ENP provides an important opportunity for social contact and is the only meal many seniors receive in a day.
The City’s current subaward agreement with the Los Angeles County for the ENP covers a one-year term beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and requires a 12% cash match.
The ENP program is operated through the Senior Services Section which provides comprehensive, long-term services that include Congregate Meal (C1), Home Delivered Meals (C2), Emergency Meals, Telephone Reassurance and Supportive Services. The goal of these services is to assist the seniors in our community to maintain their independence and live in their own homes.
The ENP C2 program is for homebound older adults requiring food delivery assistance for physical and/or medical reasons and is substantiated by a doctor’s order before beginning program services. Program services include a weekly delivery of seven frozen meals that include bread, fruit, milk, and dessert. The Emergency Meals Program is part of Home Delivered Meals and provides three days’ worth of shelf-stable meals to clients enrolled in the program per fiscal year. The Telephone Reassurance Program is also a part of the Home Delivered Meals program, and ensures that seniors who are shut-in receive a weekly well-being call.
The City contracts with TRIO Community Meals, LLC (TRIO) to provide congregate and home-delivered meals catering services for the ENP program. The contract period is from December 1, 2022, through November 30, 2026.
TRIO has provided the City notice of its intent to exercise contract terms to extend the performance period an additional two years, to November 30, 2028. During this contractual period, the meal rate will increase by 6% per meal on December 1, 2026.
Staff will return to Council to amend the TRIO contract through November 30, 2028.
The cost per meal rate during this period is as follows:
7/1/26 to 11/30/26 12/1/26 to 6/30/27
Congregate Meals $4.56 per meal $4.83 per meal
Home Delivered Meals $4.75 per meal $5.04 per meal
On May 20, 2026, MOWA notified its member organizations that it had received a $70 million unrestricted philanthropic gift from Mackenzie Scott. As a result, MOWA established a funding opportunity through the Meeting Unmet Need Acceleration Gift Distribution grant to assist member organizations in expanding their capacities to meet the growing demand for home-delivered meal services. The City of Glendale has been a 5b3
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member of MOWA since 2013 and remains a member in good standing. CSP was awarded $10,000 from MOWA through a noncompetitive award process. Grant funds must be expended by June 30, 2027. The additional grant funds will support the City's ENP C2 program by helping sustain ongoing operations and address the continued increase in demand for meal delivery services.
MOWA grant funds do not require a cash match, providing additional financial flexibility to expand services. Staff will provide a final report to MOWA to provide a testimonial of services. Acceptance of the MOWA grant will enable the City to increase meal delivery driver hours to accommodate expanded delivery routes and meet the growing needs of Glendale's older adult population.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
The Elderly Nutrition Program is administered by the Senior Services Section at the Adult Recreation Center, with an additional meal site located at the Sparr Heights Community Center. Program services are promoted quarterly through the Community Services & Parks (CSP) Leisure Guide, the CSP newsletter, CSP social media channels, and the City’s website. Outreach is also conducted in collaboration with local community agencies to increase public awareness of available services. The Senior Services Committee convenes quarterly at the Adult Recreation Center, with meeting notices and agendas posted and distributed to encourage public participation.
FISCAL IMPACT
MOWA Meeting Unmet Need Acceleration Gift Distribution grant totaling $10,000 was not included as part of the FY 2026-2027 budget process. Therefore, staff requests an appropriation as outlined below:
Requesting Appropriation
Amount From (Account
String)
To (Account String) Funding Source
$10,000 34301-2160-CSP-
0020-P0000
CSP01702AG
41300-2160-CSP-
0020-P0000
CSP01702AG
Grant Fund
Department Cost Center Program
Community
Services &
Parks
Projects
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4) as it creates a government funding mechanism or constitutes other government fiscal activities which do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment; thus, it is not subject to CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15060(c)(3). Even if it is a “project,” it can be seen with certainty that there is no 5b4
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possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment; thus, it is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
This item is exempt from campaign disclosure requirements.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
1. Do not approve acceptance of $10,000 in MOWA grant funding for FY 2026-27, which will not allow the City to increase ENP C2 meal service.
2.The City Council may consider any alternative not proposed by staff.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Onnig Bulanikian, Director of Community Services & Parks Prepared by:
Maggie Kavarian, Community Services Manager
Tereza Aleksanian, Assistant Director of Community Services & Parks Aylin Isayan, Community Services Supervisor
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
None.