Speaker Adrienne E. Adams, Council Members, and Department for the Aging Announce Over $3 Million in Funding for Specialized Vehicles to Deliver Meals to Homebound Older New Yorkers

 

Funds from City Council will support home delivered meals program across the city

Department for the Aging’s community-based partners will be able to use the funds to replace 44 hotshot vans used for meal deliveries

 New York City Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams and Council Members have announced a $3.08 million allocation to the Department for the Aging’s (DFTA) community-based partners for repair and replacement of an estimated 44 hotshot vans for the City’s home delivered meals program. The program serves millions of meals annually to older adults, who are homebound due to health or physical challenges. The meals are reviewed by registered dietitians to ensure they are nutritionally balanced.

“Our seniors are the jewels of our communities who deserve to be supported with nutritious home-delivered meals,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The City Council prioritized investing $3 million of its funds to help community-based partners continue delivering meals in a safe and timely manner. It is critical that our city meets the needs of older adults, and this funding will contribute to the vital services for homebound New Yorkers. I am proud to join my colleagues in celebrating this important allocation by the City Council in the city budget.”

“For over 30 years, the home delivered meals program has provided hot, nutritious meals to our most vulnerable older adults across the five boroughs. Even at the height of the pandemic, program staff and volunteers never stopped delivering meals,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “I’m pleased that the funding we are announcing today will provide the vehicles necessary for this program to continue serving older New Yorkers for years to come. This is another step in creating a more equitable city we can all be proud to live in, and age together in.”  

“Our local partners throughout the city have been doing an incredible job making sure homebound older adults receive the meals they need, and this allocation from the City Council will ensure they have the equipment necessary to continue their services,” said Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. “The home delivered meals program has been essential to making sure residents can age in dignity, and this allocation helps ensure we can continue our mission.”