Interfaith Neighbors

Program Spotlight | Meals on Wheels Monmouth County – Let’s Save Lunch!

As we approach March, our seniors need us to “March for Meals” now, more than ever. Local Meals on Wheels branches across the nation are struggling to access adequate funding to continue delivering meals to seniors in need while undergoing challenges such as increased food costs and gas prices, labor shortages, and supply chain issues. With these issues being so prevalent, Meals on Wheels has started a new campaign, #SaveLunch, which calls on citizens to urge Congress to increase funding provided by the Older Americans Act, which supports Meals on Wheels programs across the country.

Meals on Wheels of America reports that 10 million senior citizens are threatened by or experience hunger. Food insecurity among older adults is disproportionately affecting people of color, with 17% of Black seniors and 14% of Hispanic seniors experiencing hunger compared to 6% of White seniors. One in four people in America are 60+ and this population is only getting larger, with 12,000 turning 60 each day. As the senior citizen population increases, seniors are living longer with less money. One in two seniors living alone lacks the income to pay for basic needs. Homebound seniors also struggle with isolation and loneliness in addition to food insecurity. One in three seniors lives alone and one in four seniors reports feeling lonely. 

As these pressing issues of senior hunger and isolation grow, Meals on Wheels continues to be a beacon of light, bringing food security, nutrition, and a friendly face to seniors in need. Meals on Wheels of Monmouth County, operated by Interfaith Neighbors, serves over 1,100 meals daily to homebound seniors, disabled persons and seniors visiting their senior centers for meals.

Interfaith Neighbors serves approximately 3,500 seniors annually, amounting to over 350,000 meals delivered each year. And, Interfaith Neighbors ensures these meals are made with nutritious and quality ingredients to best serve Monmouth County senior citizens.
You can support Meals on Wheels of Monmouth County during this March for Meals campaign by donating to help continue services to seniors in need, volunteering filling bags with meals or delivering, spreading awareness about the issues of senior hunger and isolation, or by urging Congress to #SaveLunch for senior citizens. There are numerous ways to assist in ensuring seniors have stability and security through supporting Meals on Wheels.

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