(Tuesday, March 17, 2020 – New York, NY) Citymeals is working with partners across the five boroughs, including the New York City Department for the Aging, to support the City’s response to the coronavirus. As the designated emergency responder for the city’s seniors, we’re working to ensure older New Yorkers have nourishing meals during this public health crisis.

The city’s senior centers are now closed; however, home-delivered meal programs continue at this time. These meals are essential for the homebound elderly, many of whom live on just one meal a day. The average age of our meal recipients is 80, the majority live alone, and many have outlived family and friends.

By end of day Thursday, Citymeals will have packed and delivered 150,000 emergency meals for older New Yorkers in need. These are nutritious, shelf-stable meals that include pre-cooked organic brown rice, pouches of salmon, vegetables, applesauce, and treats like low-sugar oatmeal cookies and tea and coffee. We will then begin preparation of an additional 100,000 emergency meals.

Citymeals is taking every precaution with our staff and volunteers to ensure best practices are followed, as established by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Centers for Disease Control. We are practicing social distancing and have directed all volunteers with our Friendly Visiting program to connect with meal recipients over the phone to reduce possible transmission of the virus.

Citymeals is adapting its response as the situation evolves and we will continue to provide updates, as necessary.

The public can donate to support Citymeals’ emergency response at citymeals.org. 100% of all public contributions will go to the preparation and delivery of meals.

For press inquiries email press@citymeals.org.

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Citymeals on Wheels (citymeals.org) provides a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals and vital companionship to New York City’s homebound elderly. Working in partnership with community-based organizations and senior centers, Citymeals prepares and delivers over 2 million weekend, holiday and emergency meals for more than 18,000 of our frail aged neighbors each year. Last year, over 26,000 individuals volunteered more than 90,000 hours of time to Citymeals’ mission.

Since its founding in 1981, Citymeals has relied on the generosity of its Board of Directors, the City of New York, sponsors and other designated gifts to cover administrative costs. This ensures that 100% of all public donations will be used entirely for the preparation and delivery of meals.