Next50 Foundation Strengthens Support for Older Adults in Our Community

Mountain Resource Center is honored to receive extraordinary support from the Next50 Foundation. Earlier in 2025, Next50 awarded MRC a grant to sustain vital programs serving older adults. When challenges grew for many nonprofits, they stepped forward again—providing additional funding this year and committing to ongoing disbursements for the next four years. 

This support is especially significant because 56% of the people we serve are age 50 or older. Older adults in our mountain community often face unique challenges, including fixed incomes, health needs, and social isolation. Next50’s investment allows us to continue providing food security, benefits navigation, health access, and supportive connections that make a lasting difference. 

For clients like Kathleen Koch, this help has been life-changing. After her husband’s health declined, the couple found themselves on a sharply reduced income. A friend told Kathleen about MRC’s Food Share Market and veteran services, and she soon discovered a welcoming place that offered not just food and assistance—but hope. 

“That first gift, I think, is hope,” Kathleen shared. “When you feel like you have nowhere to turn, someone here says, ‘Here are two or three places—why don’t you contact them?’ That makes all the difference.” 

Kathleen’s story reflects what so many older adults in our community experience: unexpected hardship, paired with the courage to reach out. Thanks to Next50 Foundation and our generous donors, MRC can meet those moments with compassion and stability—helping clients access fresh food, healthcare coverage, and veteran benefits, while also reducing the isolation that can come with aging in a rural area. 

Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected community where older adults—and people of all ages—can thrive.