Holly Creek Residents Rally Together to Support Nourish Meals on Wheels

At Holly Creek Life Plan Community, service doesn’t stop at our campus gates—it’s woven into the fabric of daily life. This November, that spirit of generosity shone brighter than ever as residents and staff came together for our first community-wide food drive supporting Nourish Meals on Wheels, an organization serving older adults across the south metro Denver region.

Team Members and Residents Team Up to Help the Greater Community

The idea took root with Assistant Director of Nursing, Nikki Wiberg, RN—affectionately known across the community as Nurse Nikki. When she learned about the challenges faced by older adults who rely on SNAP and other food assistance programs, she knew Holly Creek could help.

“The residents are wonderful people, and I think I learn as much from them as they learn from me,” she shared. “When I heard there was an issue with SNAP, I thought we, as a community, should do something. Holly Creek residents and staff are always looking for ways to help the community outside our walls, and residents were 100% behind supporting Nourish Meals on Wheels’ mission.”

Nourish Meals on Wheels provides critical support to older adults—delivering hot meals, groceries, and even pet food to help seniors stay independent, nourished, and connected. Their mission resonated deeply with Holly Creek residents, many of whom have personal experience supporting the organization as volunteers earlier in life.

One of those residents is Sally Dungan, a longtime Meals on Wheels volunteer before moving to Holly Creek four and a half years ago.

“Our Volunteer Advisory Committee had money in our budget to help out and Meals on Wheels is a great cause.

“We’re blessed to live in a community like Holly Creek. Residents and staff work together to look out for and support one another.”

– Sally Dungan, Holly Creek resident

The Volunteer Advisory Committee stepped up with a $500 donation, and residents added more. Their generosity set the tone for the three-week drive.

Holly Creek’s food drive netted plenty of canned and non-perishable goods to help restock Nourish Meals on Wheels’ pantry. Boxes and bags of food filled quickly as residents and staff contributed soup, canned vegetables, pasta, beans, cereals, and other staples. In just three weeks, the Holly Creek community gathered donated goods and delivered them well before Thanksgiving.

“Everyone needs to eat,” Nurse Nikki said. “Collecting this much food shows the heart of our community.”

The Need for Meal Support Programs in Colorado

Residents like Shirley Calhoun echoed the importance of supporting organizations that care for older adults who may be isolated or unable to shop for themselves.

“I think Meals on Wheels is an excellent organization, and there are many residents here who have volunteered for them,” she shared.

The need for meal support programs continues to grow.

In Colorado:

• 1 in 5 residents is age 60 or older, and
• Nearly 1 in 4 seniors lives alone, which increases the risk of food insecurity and social isolation.

Nourish Meals on Wheels steps in to fill that gap, delivering:

• Up to 725 hot meals a day
• 550 frozen weekend meals
• 970 bags of groceries each month
• 270 pounds of pet food monthly

Holly Creek residents understood that each can of soup or bag of rice would go directly to help neighbors in need. The food drive not only supported older adults across the region—it strengthened Holly Creek’s own sense of purpose and connection. Residents shared stories from their volunteer days, offered encouragement to staff leading the effort, and expressed gratitude for the chance to serve others.

“I feel sorry for seniors who live alone and don’t have anyone to interact with,” Sally reflected. “Here, I have scores of friends. Everyone who comes to Holly Creek is met with genuine kindness and an opportunity to live an active and purpose-filled life.”

Thanks to overwhelming resident enthusiasm, Holly Creek plans to make the Nourish Meals on Wheels food drive an annual tradition. It’s one more way our retirement community fosters joy, generosity, and connection—both within our walls and beyond them.