Citymeals on Wheels Opens New Warehouse in the Bronx,
Expanding Its Capacity to Meet the Needs of the City’s Growing Senior Population

(October 29, 2018 – Bronx, New York) – This morning, Citymeals on Wheels, a non-profit organization dedicated to preparing and delivering meals for over 18,000 homebound elderly New Yorkers, unveiled its new warehouse facility, The Joan & Bob Tisch Emergency Meal Distribution Center, in Hunts Point.

The 25,000-square foot facility dramatically expands Citymeals’ capacity and resources to meet the needs of the New York City’s growing senior population. Now home to more than 1.4 million people over the age of 60, the city’s senior population is expected to grow 40% by 2040.

The Joan & Bob Tisch Emergency Meal Distribution Center was named in honor of the Tisch family and their ongoing commitment to the fight against elder hunger. The new facility enables Citymeals to expand its critical efforts to deliver weekend, holiday and emergency meals to more than 18,000 frail aged New Yorkers across the five boroughs, including:

• Doubling the number of packed shelf-stable emergency food boxes
• Storing enough nonperishable food for 55,000 additional meals, ready to be packed and distributed at a moment’s notice
• Expanding its Mobile Food Pantry for meal recipients most at risk for malnutrition
• Operating a weekend meal delivery program in the Bronx
• Refrigerating fresh produce
• Accommodating up to 300 volunteers at one time to pack emergency meals for delivery

The building’s new façade was designed and donated by Board Member David Rockwell, Founder and President of the Rockwell Group. It introduces New Yorkers to their homebound neighbors with larger-than-life portraits of Citymeals recipients. Too old and frail to shop and cook for themselves, they are often hidden behind closed doors – but their vitality is brought to life here.

“The faces on this building represent the thousands we serve every day. They worked hard, raised families, fought in wars and gave so much to this city we love,” says Citymeals Executive Director Beth Shapiro. “And it’s our mission – and honor – to ensure they never go a day without a nutritious meal and someone to check in on them.”

Citymeals on Wheels provides an essential safety net for New York City’s homebound elderly and is the designated emergency responder for the city’s aging population. The new warehouse was opened on the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, when Citymeals mobilized 834 volunteers to deliver 63,846 emergency meals to its recipients and nearly 10,000 other seniors trapped in their homes.

###

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. This year, nearly 25,000 individuals lent their support to our 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.