Last week Sierra Senior Services received a $10,000 challenge grant from an anonymous donor through the help of the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation. The dollar amount of this grant has been increased by the Sierra Senior Services Board, bringing the total challenge to $15,000 to be matched by the end of July.

This is a dollar-for-dollar winning opportunity for the community to help fill the funding gap for the senior Meals on Wheels program.

Due to a 30-percent increase in demand for meals, combined with a 30-percent decline in revenues during the past year, the Meals on Wheels program faced serious changes that would have included closing the dining room and delivering frozen meals three times a week. After several community meetings were held in June, the message was clear to keep the kitchen open while making a plea to the public for contributions.

Meals on Wheels and Sierra Senior Services officials say the organization needs community support now. The Truckee/North Tahoe community may double the value of every dollar donated through July 31.

Sierra Senior Services board president David Kahn stated in a release that and#8220;these meals are essential and must be preserved, but it takes money to do so.and#8221;

Checks can be mailed to Sierra Senior Services, P. O. Box 4152, Truckee, CA 96160.

Sierra Senior Services annually provides more than 24,000 hot meals to disabled and senior citizens of the Tahoe-Truckee community. It delivers 40 Meals on Wheels daily to homebound seniors in Nevada and Placer Counties who would otherwise be forced into institutional living. The agency also feeds 30 locals every weekday in its community dining room located in the Truckee Senior Housing complex. Almost all who participate in the program are long-time area residents who have spent their lives in service to the Truckee and North Tahoe communities. Most live in poverty. The meals program provides not only vital nutrition, but also a respite from the isolation faced by many of the areaand#8217;s disabled and senior citizens.