For New York City’s most vulnerable population — the homebound elderly — extreme weather conditions are especially dangerous. In winter, snow and ice can trap our meal recipients inside their homes, and summer heatwaves put them at risk for dangerous heat-related illness. Many of our older neighbors spend more time behind closed doors during these seasons, making them especially susceptible to hunger and isolation.

That’s why our warehouse buzzes with activity seasonally as staff assemble Emergency Food Packages (EFPs) for our meal recipients. Each EFP contains several ready-to-eat meals and additional items, including staples like tuna, organic brown rice, vegetables and applesauce — as well as special treats like hot chocolate and low-sugar cookies.

EFPs are a lifeline for our isolated older neighbors, ensuring their kitchen cabinets are well-stocked if our regular meal deliveries are delayed. 

Last year, Citymeals provided over 230,000 Emergency Food Packages to our meal recipients.