(Friday, March 13, 2020 – New York, NY) Citymeals is working with partners across all five boroughs, including the New York City Department for the Aging, to support the City’s response to Covid-19. As the designated emergency responder for the city’s seniors, we’re ensuring every one of our homebound elderly neighbors in need has nourishing meals during this dangerous outbreak.

Home-delivered meal programs continue at this time. These meals are essential for the homebound elderly, many of whom live on just one meal a day.

Citymeals has packed and delivered 45,000 emergency meals for frail aged New Yorkers. We are now packing an additional 200,000 emergency meals in case senior centers must close.

Citymeals is taking every precaution with our staff and volunteers to ensure best practices are followed, as established by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Centers for Disease Control. We have advised all staff and volunteers to stay home if they feel sick, and have directed all volunteers with our Friendly Visiting program to connect with meal recipients over the phone, rather than in person, to reduce possible transmission of the virus.

Citymeals is closely monitoring the current situation as it evolves. We will continue to provide updates, as necessary.

The public can support Citymeals’ emergency meal programs by making a donation at citymeals.org. 100% of all public contributions will go to the preparation and delivery of meals.

For press inquiries email press@citymeals.org.

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Citymeals on Wheels (citymeals.org) provides a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals and vital companionship to New York City’s homebound elderly. Working in partnership with community-based organizations and senior centers, Citymeals prepares and delivers over 2 million weekend, holiday and emergency meals for more than 18,000 of our frail aged neighbors each year. Last year, over 26,000 individuals volunteered more than 90,000 hours of time to Citymeals’ mission.

Since its founding in 1981, Citymeals has relied on the generosity of its Board of Directors, the City of New York, sponsors and other designated gifts to cover administrative costs. This ensures that 100% of all public donations will be used entirely for the preparation and delivery of meals.