Citymeals on Wheels is now more than 18 months into its historic emergency response to Covid-19, nourishing vulnerable older New Yorkers during the pandemic. While much of the city shuttered this year, our home-delivered meals have continued without interruption. Since the start of the crisis, Citymeals has delivered over 4 million meals to our frail aged neighbors – a 66% increase over the previous year.
As the designated emergency responder for the city’s seniors, it is not only our regular meal recipients who have come to depend on us. For many older New Yorkers, a trip to the grocery store or food pantry is simply too risky. Others relied on breakfast and lunch from their local senior centers which remain closed. Now isolated at home, many vulnerable elderly face the prospect of going hungry.
Citymeals is now serving nearly 20,000 homebound elderly New Yorkers on our regular delivery routes –10% more than before Covid-19. We are also providing 5,000 shelf-stable meals a week for additional older New Yorkers at risk for hunger, many living in senior or public housing.
Nearly 10,000 volunteers have joined our dedicated staff on the frontlines to ensure meal deliveries continue uninterrupted. For the homebound elderly, who are too frail to shop or cook for themselves, these deliveries provide critical nutrition and a regular wellness check-in. Volunteers are also connecting with Citymeals recipients by telephone and Zoom, to check in on them and alleviate isolation.
You can sign up to volunteer and help your frail aged neighbors by delivering meals, making phone calls or creating handmade cards.
What’s going on is just terrible. Thank you so much for checking in. It gets pretty lonely here.
Even before Covid-19, our meal recipients were isolated. Now they are more vulnerable than ever. Hear from some of them about how the pandemic is impacting their lives.
You can stay up-to-date on our evolving emergency response through our press statements and check out coverage of our work.
Citymeals is partnering with restaurants and others in the culinary community, who have donated products, services and meals to help nourish Citymeals recipients during this unprecedented time. We have also received generous support from our corporate and foundation partners, as well as retail partners who are donating a portion of proceeds from their sales.
To get a Covid-19 vaccine, you can call 1-877-VAX-4-NYC or 1-877-829-4692 to make an appointment by phone or visit https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov to find a location near you and schedule your appointment. Homebound New Yorkers and their caregivers can make a vaccine appointment by can make an appointment to receive the vaccine at home. Begin the process here.
100% of your donation will be used for the preparation and delivery of meals, thanks to our partnership with the New York City Department for the Aging, along with gifts from our board of directors and others designated for administrative expenses.
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