CITYMEALS ON WHEELS DELIVERS MORE THAN 24,000 THANKSGIVING MEALS
TO HOMEBOUND ELDERLY NEW YORKERS
 

Over 400 Volunteers Spent Thanksgiving Morning Delivering Meals and Checking in on Their Older Neighbors in Need

(November 23, 2022 - New York, NY) -- This Thanksgiving, Citymeals provided more than 24,000 holiday meals, complete with all the fixings, for homebound elderly New Yorkers across the city. Working in partnership with 30 community-based organizations, including Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center on the Upper East Side, Citymeals volunteers spent the morning delivering the meals, along with a friendly check-in, reminding their older neighbors they are not forgotten on this holiday. 

“Thanksgiving is Citymeals' biggest day of the year, and this year we delivered over 24,000 festive meals to older New Yorkers in need,” said Citymeals CEO Beth Shapiro. “Holidays can be a lonely time for our meal recipients, many of whom will spend the day alone. Thanks to 400 Citymeals volunteers, our recipients will get a special knock on the door and a nourishing meal today.”

One in 10 older New Yorkers is facing hunger, a number that is increasing. Among those Citymeals serves, 14% get by on just the one meal a day that the organization delivers. Among Citymeals recipients:

  • More than half are over 80 years old, and 20% are over 90.
  • Nearly all need assistance walking: 66% use a cane, 39% use a walker and 16% use a wheelchair.
  • Meal recipients are isolated: more than half of meal recipients live alone, 40% rarely or never leave their homes, and 8% have no one they can talk to on a regular basis other than their meal deliverer.