As you are already well aware, shelter-in-place orders designed to keep high-risk residents safe amid the pandemic have created a rapid increase in the number of seniors who rely on home-delivered meals as their primary source of food. This, coupled with supply chain and work force disruptions, makes delivering large quantities of meals to a growing number of seniors more expensive and challenging for SOS Meals on Wheels than ever before.
But how does what's happening in our community compare to the rest of the United States?
To other local Meals on Wheels programs?
A new survey conducted by Meals on Wheels America finds that nearly all local Meals on Wheels programs are experiencing increased demand since concerns over COVID-19 and social distancing measures began taking hold.
Nationally, programs reported substantive shifts in their operations in April, compared to the week prior to March 1:
- 89 percent of programs have seen an increase in meal requests; of those, 79 percent report the number of new requests for meals has at least doubled - This is true for SOS Meals on Wheels. We are currently fielding 1,000+ calls per week.
- Programs are serving 56 percent more meals and 22 percent more seniors per week - SOS is serving 61% more meals (not including meals for our partner programs or shelf-stable emergency meals) and 54% more seniors since the first week of March.
- Waiting lists for meals, which existed before the COVID-19 crisis, have grown by 26 percent - We work very hard to enroll every eligible senior who requests meals without delay. This has been one of our great successes!
- Aside from funding, 63 percent of programs report that acquiring safety supplies (gloves, masks, etc.) is the biggest challenge - Securing safety supplies has been a challenge, but our generous community has come through with donations of hand sanitizer and one of our fabulous volunteers sewed over 100 handmade masks for our staff and volunteers!
“There is no debate that older Americans have borne the brunt of this pandemic, and if we only examine infection, hospitalization and death rates, we vastly underestimate the true impact,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO, Meals on Wheels America. “This survey data offers critical insights into the level of support necessary now and beyond the pandemic, to ensure we meet the needs of our most vulnerable populations.”
As the spread of the virus continues and discussions over how and when to end stay-at-home orders ensue, SOS Meals on Wheels expects demand to grow even more.
“Sheltering at home is keeping seniors safe, but we must also strengthen and protect the support systems that enable them to do that, such as nutrition services and programs that reduce isolation,” said Hollander. “We can’t do one without the other.”
We couldn't agree more.
***ABOUT THE SURVEY
The survey was conducted between April 22-28 amongst Meals on Wheels America’s Membership, which is representative of the national senior nutrition provider network of 5,000+ individual community-based programs. The survey has a +/- 4% margin of error.
***ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits, and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research, and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit
www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org
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