Turn Up the Music, Turn Back Hunger: Legends Concert Helps Simi Seniors
Sylvie Belmond 
From stage to supper, buy a ticket and keep Meals on Wheels rolling
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Under the glow of stage lights, legendary voices will croon timeless classics. At the same time, back in Simi Valley homes, each delivered meal is a song of comfort, connection and care.
The City of Simi Valley Senior Center is inviting the community to two soulful concerts this December with a purpose that goes beyond the music. Proceeds from the Legends of Soul Concert Weekend will benefit the Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels program, which delivers hot meals to homebound seniors in the city. December may seem a long way off, but tickets are already on sale for this good cause.
On Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m., Every Woman will bring the sounds of Motown and disco to the stage with Freddie Pool of The Three Degrees and Former Ladies of the Supremes, Hazel Payne of A Taste of Honey, and Patryce “Choc’Let” Banks of Graham Central Station.
The music continues Sunday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. with Quadrasoul. The group features longtime members of The Fifth Dimension, performing hits such as “Up, Up and Away” and “Aquarius.” Both shows take place at the Santa Susana Performing Arts Center.
Tickets range from $45 for general admission to $75 for a VIP experience that includes premium seating, a meet-and-greet with artists, and photo opportunities. Each ticket includes a commemorative program. Tickets are available online at bit.ly/legendsofsoul.
More Than a Meal
Malnutrition is dangerous. Proper nutrition isn’t just food — it’s the difference between thriving and barely surviving. Today, 1 in 8 seniors is in danger of going hungry, and more than half report feeling lonely, according to Meals on Wheels America.
Hunger and isolation are intensified for America’s homebound seniors — older adults who face barriers to mobility, food access and meal preparation. The meals delivered by local programs are often the primary or only source of nutrition for many. For some, the Meals on Wheels volunteer is the only human contact they have all day.
A Growing Need
Meals on Wheels has been hit hard by funding shortfalls in Simi Valley. In fiscal year 2023–24, the program served about 71,824 meals, but due to reduced grant allocations in 2024–25, the number dropped to 29,083 — a decline of more than 60%, according to a report presented to the Simi Valley City Council in May. The shortfall has left dozens of seniors on a waiting list.
Nationally, the story is the same. Every year, Meals on Wheels serves over 2 million seniors, but that is only a fraction of those who need help. One in three local providers has a waitlist, and some seniors wait longer than two years for service. Nearly 46,000 seniors are waiting nationwide — almost enough to fill Yankee Stadium.
Volunteers Make It Happen
Locally, Meals on Wheels relies on volunteers who deliver hot, noontime meals Monday through Friday to homebound seniors with no one else to prepare food for them. Drivers bring more than nutrition. They bring a knock at the door, a smile and a safety check.
Those interested in helping can apply through the City of Simi Valley Senior Center. Call (805) 583-6042 for information on volunteering or visit the Senior Center at 3900 Avenida Simi. The center also offers the Rendezvous Café congregate meal program and a Senior Share grocery program, providing multiple ways to support older adults in the community.
A Concert With Purpose
This concert weekend isn’t just about reliving the golden hits of soul, disco, Motown and R&B. It’s about feeding bodies and uplifting spirits — a musical rescue mission delivering nourishment and company to seniors who count on these meals to stay healthy, safe and independent.
The weekend concerts will also include a tribute to Ventura County’s first responders. For more details, call the Senior Center at (805) 583-6363.
