OCEAN COUNTY – The national Meals on Wheels program has its eye on congressional funding and is urging voters to “save lunch.”
In Ocean County, federal funding accounts for 25% of Meals on Wheels’ annual budget. However, officials said the money has not kept up with the cost of inflation, nor the expanding senior population.
“Meals on Wheels of Ocean County serves 1,000 meals per day and is a crucial lifeline and wellness check to Ocean County seniors,” said Executive Director Jim Sigurdson. “We are asking you to reach out to Ocean County’s federally elected officials: Senator Cory Booker, Senator Robert Menendez, Congressman Chris Smith and Congressman Jeff Van Drew and tell them how critical this funding is to our seniors.”
They provided a website, SaveLunch.org, where residents can easily reach out to their elected officials and tell them how important this program is to them.
In 2022 alone, they delivered more than 240,000 hot meals six days a week to more than 1,600 homebound residents, according to officials. They also provided nutrition education and counseling to promote and enhance their wellbeing. Additionally, they run a Community Cafe for onsite meals.
Regular drivers become a familiar face to people who might not see anyone else all day. While making a delivery, they do a safety and wellness check to see if the client needs to be referred to other services.
Studies show that Meals on Wheels America has improved senior health – physical as well as social – while saving money.
“Meals on Wheels is a proven solution to a problem that is far too common: seniors dealing with hunger and isolation during their struggle to stay independent and healthy at home, where they want to be,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO at Meals on Wheels America. “But local programs can only reach their full potential if funding is increased to keep pace with inflation and need. Funding cuts put millions of American seniors in danger and merely maintaining current funding levels isn’t enough, given the existing gap between those Meals on Wheels can serve and those desperately in need.”
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