Meals on Wheels celebrates National Grandparents’ Day with a three-generation delivery, highlighting its fight against hunger and loneliness among seniors.

SAN DIEGO — Meals on Wheels San Diego County will celebrate National Grandparents’ Day this Sunday with a special three-generation delivery team. Thirteen-year-old Austin Danzo, along with his mother and grandmother, delivered a healthy meal to 78-year-old Lorraine Perrino, showcasing the organization’s commitment to fighting hunger and loneliness among seniors.

“60-thousand meals are distributed in San Diego county every month and we are following this one to share its special story,” said CBS 8’S Jeff Zevely, who accompanied the family on their delivery route.


Perrino, who lives alone on a fixed income with her service dog Ivey, expressed gratitude for the service. “It helps immensely, especially with prices going up right now, it really saves me a lot,” she said.

The delivery not only provided essential nutrition but also much-needed companionship. “Well, it gets awfully lonely and people my age don’t visit a lot,” Perrino added.

Austin’s involvement with meal delivery began during the COVID-19 pandemic when he was just 7 years old. “I thought like wow, we can do a lot more with this food and not just eat it ourselves,” he explained. Using his toy Jeep, Austin delivered over 100 meals to neighbors, earning the nickname “Austin Prime.”


His mother, Melissa, now serves as a Meals on Wheels board member, while his grandmother Janna joins in the deliveries. “Extraordinary wonderful,” Janna commented on the experience.

Brent Wakefield, CEO of Meals on Wheels San Diego County, praised the family’s multigenerational approach to volunteering. “Knowing Melissa, his mom, I think what I see is that it’s contagious amongst generations right? So, you get to see mom and grandma, it’s part of the culture of the family giving back,” he said.

Last year, Meals on Wheels delivered 640,000 meals countywide, providing not just nutrition but also vital social connections for seniors. The organization continues to serve over 2,100 seniors and disabled veterans daily, with volunteers conducting wellness checks during their visits.


As the team left Perrino’s home, she expressed her appreciation for the kindness shown. “This is wonderful I feel spoiled,” she said, reflecting the positive impact of Meals on Wheels’ services on the lives of local seniors.

If you’d like more information about volunteering for Meals on Wheels or making a donation, click here.