Alexandria, VA – In March, Senior Services of Alexandria (SSA) will celebrate the 50th anniversary of President Nixon’s signing into law an amendment to the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include a national nutrition program for seniors 60 and older.
Meals on Wheels programs across the country, including SSA, are joining forces to increase awareness of how devastating senior food insecurity and malnutrition can be, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, and how we combat it with programs like Meals on Wheels.
This month, SSA will help generate public awareness about this issue and celebrate the invaluable services provided by senior nutrition programs. In partnership with the City Division of Aging and Adult Services, SSA has worked tirelessly to ensure that homebound older adults receive Meals on Wheels seven days a week, 365 days a year. SSA volunteers deliver over 2,300 meals each week to homebound older adults.
March will be proclaimed “March for Meals” month by the City Council. March 21-25 will be “Champions” week! City and other public officials will deliver Meals on Wheels to show their support for senior nutrition programs.
Meals on Wheels couldn’t happen without SSA’s dedicated volunteers. We are fortunate to welcome back our older volunteers, who had to step aside during the pandemic. SSA will celebrate and thank our volunteers throughout the month and recruit new volunteers.
If you want to help or know someone interested in making a difference in an older person’s life, go to SSA’s website at www.seniorservicesalex.org and click on “Volunteer,” or call 703-836-4414, ext. 112. Meals on Wheels programs require sustained and expanded funding to address senior hunger and isolation in our communities. To learn more about the Older Americans Act and senior nutrition, go to www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
MaryAnne Beatty is the director of the Senior Ambassador Program, Senior Services of Alexandria.
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