Dr. Maryam D. Far is the new executive director for Meals That Connect, the non-profit organization that runs the Senior Nutrition Programs in SLO County. Submitted photo
The non-profit group that feeds thousands of senior citizens in San Luis Obispo County has a new leader.
Meals That Connect, the leading senior nutrition group in SLO County announced Jan. 14 that it had named Dr. Maryam D. Far as its new executive director.
“Dr. Far,” they said in a news release, “joins Meals That Connect with more than 25-years of leadership experience across non-profit organizations, healthcare systems, behavioral health programs, educational institutions, and community-based agencies. She brings a long-standing record of strengthening mission-driven organizations through strategic planning, compassionate service, and community partnership.”
Dr. Far’s resume shows a long history of working with elderly citizens. She previously served as Ombudsman with the San Diego Area Agency on Aging, “ensuring dignity and safety for seniors in long-term care facilities. She also volunteered with the Alzheimer’s Association of San Diego, providing support to families and caregivers affected by dementia.”
Alissa Maddren, Meals That Connect Board Chair said, “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Far as our new Executive Director. Her deep experience, strong leadership, and heartfelt commitment to senior wellbeing make her the ideal person to guide the organization into its next chapter.”
Dr. Far will oversee all of Meals That Connect’s various operations, including nutrition services, community partnerships, volunteer coordination, program expansion and strategic planning. Her leadership, “will help strengthen the organization’s mission of providing nutritious meals, social connection, and compassionate support to older adults across the county,” the organization said.
Dr. Far said, “Seniors deserve dignity, connection, and nourishing support, and I look forward to working with our dedicated staff, volunteers, and partners to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our community with compassion and excellence.”
She’s a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has a background in healthcare, community nonprofits, therapeutic programs and higher education. Being a therapist has broadened her talents.
“She integrates trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices into her leadership,” the organization said. “She has earned numerous awards for outstanding service, innovation, and community leadership throughout her career.
Dr. Far is an Orcutt resident where she lives with her husband and older son, a Cal Poly student, and her younger son is a senior in high school. She enjoys cooking, baking, traveling, participating in community events, and fundraising for causes that strengthen families and communities.
According to the Meals That Connect website, the whole senior citizen care movement began in 1963 under President John F. Kennedy and the Older Americans Act. Along with the National Council of Senior Citizens, May became designated “Senior Citizens Month” (now called Older Americans Month).
President Lynden Johnson signed the Older Americans Act into law in 1965 establishing the Administration on Aging, part of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. It also called for the creation of State Units on Aging.
Money to provide nutrition for seniors started in 1974 and states and counties established entities to manage the programs, giving birth to the Area Agency on Aging.
The SLO County Area Agency on Aging managed senior nutrition programs here until 1981, when the contract was taken over by the Economic Opportunity Commission (now called CAPSLO), which struggled with the program for 10 years.
The Senior Nutrition program incorporated as a separate entity in 1991 and took over the meal program.
That organization also struggled with limited funding for the next 15 years and in 2006, local restaurateur Elias Nimeh, the previous owner of Tortilla Flats in Downtown SLO, took over the nonprofit.
Through his leadership, the program turned around and began to thrive.
In 2016, Verdin Marketing led a rebranding of the Senior Nutrition Program into the current Meals That Connect. That PR work was done pro bono through Verdin’s 24-hour makeover giveaway program. It has thrived despite some recent challenging times.
During the COVID Pandemic in 2021, Meals That Connect served over 206,500 meals, helped in great part to an annual donation of money from CENCAL Health.
Every weekday, Meals That Connect provides free, healthy, noontime meals to over 2,000 seniors 60-older throughout San Luis Obispo County. The organization has over 300 volunteers that help with the programs.
Meal sites include the Morro Bay Senior Center (located inside the Community Center) and the South Bay Community Center in Los Osos, and the Cambria Community Presbyterian Church, at 2250 Yorkshire Dr. In SLO noontime meals are served at United Church of Christ Congregational, 11245 Los Osos Valley Rd. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. If you are homebound, you can arrange to have meals delivered to your door, as well.
See: www.mealsthatconnect.org for more information.
