Amid high food prices, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is calling for $1.284 billion in funding for the Older Americans Act Title III-C Nutrition Program, which provides free meals to older adults. The funding will help organizations like Meals on Wheels deliver 230 million nutritious meals annually to 2.2 million older adults nationwide facing hunger.
“Free delivered meals are a lifeline for older New Yorkers,” said Senator Gillibrand. “They help seniors on fixed incomes, who are especially impacted by high food prices, access the nutritious food they might not otherwise be able to afford. They make sure that disabled seniors don’t go hungry just because they have trouble getting to the grocery store. And they provide homebound seniors with much-needed social interaction every day. I’m calling for over $1.2 billion to fund programs like Meals on Wheels to allow our seniors to age with dignity in their own homes and stay physically and mentally healthy throughout their lives.”
Senator Gillibrand’s letter is endorsed by Meals on Wheels America, New York StateWide Senior Action Council, Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), New York State Office for the Aging, India Home, Neighborhood SHOPP, Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc., New York Vision Rehabilitation Association and VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, CaringKind, the Heart of Alzheimer’s Caregiving, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ), NY Senator Liz Krueger, New York State Office for the Aging, Citymeals on Wheels, The Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, New York City Department for the Aging, and AHRC NYC.
You can read Senator Gillibrand’s letter below: