8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECMBER 25-31, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula is outgrowing its space. In the last five years, demand for its meal services has more than doubled, pushing beyond the capacity of its existing 1,000-square-foot kitchen in Pacific Grove, which produces around 300-500 meals daily. For the first time in its 53-year history, the nonprofit has considered waiting lists. “It just wasn’t built or designed to ever do anything like that,” says Jacob Shafer, senior director of advancement. Now, after a year of searching for the right location, they’re making moves to expand operations to the former Monterey Peninsula Power Sports’ building at 1020 Auto Center Parkway in Seaside—over 15 times the size of the current facility and in a more accessible location to volunteers and drivers closer to Highway 1. After purchasing the building in July for $3.4 million and getting the green light from the City of Seaside, they’re beginning to work with an architect to redesign and rebuild. “We’re definitely building this kitchen with the future in mind,” Shafer says. “We’re going to hit the ground running and produce more meals here than we do there, but we also want to grow into its capacity. So we’re planning, thinking 25, 50 years ahead.” The organization manages several core programs: It provides home-delivered meals and wellness checks to seniors; it operates group dining sites that offer meals in a social, restaurant-like setting; and supports nonprofit partners by supplying food. Operations during the pandemic grew dramatically as people were unable to leave their homes. Over time, MOWMP has not only retained those customers, but now has more visibility in the community, according to CEO Christine Winge. “We had to really readapt the entire kitchen, put in new equipment, reorganize, but then also get two new freezers, add more storage, and that place wasn’t built for a ton of storage,” Winge says. She adds that they’ve been at the Pacific Grove location for the last 50 years, and that it’s storage, more than the kitchen, that needs to expand. With permitting and construction ahead, the timeline is still unknown. But, Shafer says two years is their current, admittedly ambitious, goal. “It’s a crazy time right now. We just keep going forward because that’s what we know to do,” Winge says. “We’re here to help. Nobody should go hungry.” A statewide initiative to lower hospital costs is now playing a role in a conflict between the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula and Anthem Blue Cross. The insurance company announced on Dec. 22 that customers on commercial and employer-sponsored plans by Anthem will lose network access to CHOMP by Feb. 1, if an agreement cannot be reached with parent company Montage Health by the end of the current contract on Jan. 31. According to a statement by an Anthem spokesperson, company officials are “asking CHOMP to work with us to improve affordability and align future cost growth with statewide benchmarks,” referring to spending caps imposed by the California Office of Health Care Affordability board. CHOMP and six other high-cost hospitals are required to limit spending growth to 1.8 percent in 2026, compared to 3.5 percent by lower-cost facilities. In response, Montage Director of Marketing and Communications Mindy Maschmeyer said that Montage is committed to, and working toward, complying with the spending cap. “Despite these efforts, Anthem is using OHCA as a justification to impose [reimbursement] rates that fall below medical inflation,” she said. “Anthem’s threat to terminate our agreement jeopardizes access to essential health care services for thousands of families on the Monterey Peninsula.” The action would not impact Medicare patients, the Anthem spokesperson confirms. Anthem members would still have access to Montage providers outside of the hospital—only CHOMP would be out-ofnetwork. Exceptions may be available for ongoing care or procedures already scheduled. In the past two years, Anthem members with Salinas Valley Health and Aspire have each experienced separate disruptions in coverage when contract negotiations faltered between Anthem and the organizations. In both cases, contracts were eventually agreed to and coverage was restored. More Meals Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula secures a Seaside building to expand. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS CIVIC DUTY City of Pacific Grove has openings on various boards, commissions and committees. Pacific Grove residents are encouraged to apply. Deadline to apply is Jan. 2. (831) 6483181, cityofpacificgrove.org. ’TIS THE SEASON GreenWaste is taking holiday trees curbside for composting. Remove decorations and non-wood stands and cut the tree into sections of 6 feet or less. Flocked trees are not permitted. Curbside collection begins Jan. 2 and runs for three weeks. Multi-family communities can drop off trees for free at ReGen Monterey, 14201 Del Monte Blvd., Marina. (831) 920-6707, greenwaste.com. ELIMINATE EMISSIONS The draft Monterey County Zero Emissions Shared Mobility Study is now available for public review. The study aims to identify sustainable transportation options, especially in rural and low-income communities. Review period ends Jan. 5. Free. bit.ly/ ZEVStudy2025. WATER LEADERS Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency launches the Water Leadership Institute in January. The program focuses on helping residents better understand groundwater issues in the Salinas Valley. Applications due Jan. 15. Workshops held Jan. 31, Feb. 21, March 7 and March 28 at the Salinas Sports Complex. Free. waterleadershipinstitute.com/California. ADD UP The Coalition of Homeless Services Providers is recruiting volunteers for the 2026 Homeless Point-in-Time Count that takes place on Jan. 29. Teams of volunteers will conduct early morning street counts. (877) 728-4545; register at bit.ly/ PITCount2026. HELP WITH RENT City of Salinas’ Pilot Rental Assistance Program is now taking applications. The program provides short-term financial relief to Salinas residents facing eviction due to non-payment of rent. Program runs through June 30, or until funds are exhausted. Free. (831) 775-4269, bit.ly/ SalinasPilotRentalProgram. SHARE THE OUTDOORS Pinnacles National Park Foundation is searching for volunteers to staff the Bear Gulch Nature Center. Volunteers welcome visitors and share park information. info@pinnaclesfoundation.org. Power Play Thousands of Anthem customers may lose access to CHOMP by February. By Pam Marino Jacob Shafer and Christine Winge of Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula in the organization’s new building in Seaside, which will be built out into a kitchen. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “We’re here to help. Nobody should go hungry.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==