OCEAN COUNTY – Residents are strongly urged to help bring the joy of the holiday season to others through donations to the Ocean County Meals on Wheels program.
“Ocean County is home to the largest senior population in New Jersey,” said the Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as Chairman of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services.
“Our Meals on Wheels program delivers 1,000 meals a day to many of our residents who cannot provide themselves with a hot meal,” Vicari said. With over 200,000 senior residents who call Ocean County home, those being over the age of 85 is the fastest growing population in the county.
Meals on Wheels, which is run by Community Services Inc., provides hundreds of thousands of home delivered meals, to homebound isolated seniors, in addition to congregate meal services, weekend and holiday home delivered meals, social services support and evidence based health programs for the elderly.
Vicari said, “for many of our residents the delivery driver is the only person that they see all day. To be able to provide our most vulnerable residents with a hot meal, and also check in and see how they are doing is important.”
It costs over $14 to prepare and serve each meal provided by Meals on Wheels. A $2 donation is suggested for those who receive meals, although only 61 percent of the seniors can afford the donation.
“Every donation helps ensure that no senior is every denied because they cannot afford a contribution. Donations do not just provide the meal, it is also a lifeline and a source of hope,” Vicari said.
Those seeking to donate to Meals on Wheels can do so by visiting give.csimow.org/give/455509/#!/donation/checkout. A suggested breakdown for donations includes:
$260 will cover the meal donation for six months
$180 will cover the meal donation for three months
$40 will cover the meal donation for one month
$20 will cover the meal donation for two weeks
“As we kick off the holiday season, I encourage everyone to be a Santa for a senior and make a donation to our Meals on Wheels program,” said Vicari. “Together we can help make a difference and make sure no senior goes hungry.”
For additional information on Meals on Wheels, visit csimow.org/ or call 609-978-6869.
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