By Julie Piper Finley | Director of Marketing & Communications
Our participant surveys indicate that 20% of the seniors who receive Weekend Meals are eating only one meal a day - the one we bring them. These seniors would go hungry on the weekends if not for the Weekend Meal Program. We received this note from a senior who receives weekend meals: "Thank you so much for coming to my rescue. You do a good deed and I hope people see the good you do."
More than 25% of those we serve live at or below poverty and most do not have access to fresh food. Our hot,nutritious meals not only provide them with 1/3 of the RDA for an older adult, but include fresh, whole fruit like oranges and pears. Hot weekend meals allow frail, homebound seniors to remain independent and living in their own homes. Many chronic conditions can be aided by a nutritious diet.The cost to provide a year of meals to a homebound senior is $1,320 while the cost of a year in a nursing home is upwards of $60,000.
The number of seniors requesting Meals on Wheels has increased bynearly 8% in the last year. An interesting trend is that a large part of this increase is among "younger" seniors age 60 to 69. Most have not prepared financially for retirement and they are sicker than those the same age a decade ago. As baby boomers continue to age, we have the capacity to expand our program to meet the growing need. This is due, in part, to the generous donations like those that come from Global Giving. We are grateful for your support of seniors in our community.
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