PASCACK VALLEY AREA, N.J.—U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) delivered Meals on Wheels to North Jersey seniors on March 1, meeting with volunteers in Westwood and then making stops at Fifth District homes in Emerson—including local resident and former teacher Francesca Ianora, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday.
(See “Francesca Ianora Day, on a beloved borough booster’s 100th,” Pascack Press, Jan. 28, 2021.)
“Here in New Jersey, we have hundreds of thousands of seniors who either live isolated, alone, or in or near poverty. Thankfully, North Jersey has many local organizations, like Meals on Wheels, helping to get groceries to those in need,” said Gottheimer.
In remarks forwarded to us by his office, he added, “With these issues being exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis, I’m glad that recent bipartisan federal action I helped lead included a $175 million investment to support Meals on Wheels and to help senior nutrition services nationwide.”
The most recent bicameral, bipartisan COVID-19 relief package to be signed into law—spearheaded by Gottheimer’s Problem Solvers Caucus—included a $13 billion investment in nutrition programs, including $175 million to support Meals on Wheels and other nutrition services for seniors.
Last week, the House passed a new COVID-19 relief package, which contains an additional $740 million for senior nutrition programs like Meals on Wheels, as part of a larger $12 billion in nutrition investment.
Meals on Wheels leverages public and private funds to support 2.4 million seniors across the United States with nutritious meals and wellness checks. The program reduces hospitalizations and helps seniors stay in their homes, saving the government billions of dollars each year in health care expenses.
For information on New Jersey food security programs, visit:
- NJHelps.org
- The New Jersey Department of Human Services — Division of Family Development (DFD)’s SNAP and WFNJ Updates During Coronavirus: childcarenj.gov/SocialServices
- Meals on Wheels North Jersey: mealsonwheelsnorthjersey.org
For more information from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and frequently asked questions about federal nutrition assistance programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit fns.usda.gov/disaster/pandemic/covid-19/fns-frequently-asked-questions.