Arlington, VA, May 3, 2018 – Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander was today joined by Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Eric Hargan, and Administration for Community Living (ACL) Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging Lance Robertson, to deliver meals to seniors served by Meals on Wheels of Takoma Park in Maryland. 

This special meal delivery commemorates the beginning of Older Americans Month, the annual observance led by the ACL each May. Across the country this month, aging organizations like Meals on Wheels will be recognizing older Americans and their contributions to our society while working to raise awareness about the issues facing the fastest growing segment of the population.

“May is an important time to recognize the vital public-private partnership that delivers more than just nutritious meals to homebound Americans,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “It was an honor to have Deputy Secretary Hargan and Assistant Secretary Robertson meet with meal recipients and witness firsthand the impact that Meals on Wheels has on millions of seniors nationwide every day.”

During the delivery in Takoma Park, MD, Deputy Secretary Hargan and Assistant Secretary Robertson met with several senior clients who rely on Meals on Wheels to stay healthy and independent in their own homes. Meals on Wheels of Takoma Park was one of the first Meals on Wheels programs in the Washington, DC area and delivers meals to homebound area seniors each weekday.

“The Department of Health and Human Services is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of the American people,” said Eric Hargan, Deputy Secretary of HHS. “We know that people are happier and healthier when they can live independently and remain engaged. We also know that people who don’t have access to healthy food can face greater health challenges. The work done by programs like Meals on Wheels, which bring together federal and local resources, and both the public and private sectors, helps make the lives of older Americans better.”

“ACL was created around the fundamental principle that all people, regardless of age or disability, should be able to live independently and be fully engaged in their communities. Our nutrition programs play a critically important role in making that possible for millions of people,” said Lance Robertson, ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging. “May is Older Americans Month, and this year’s theme is ‘Engage at Every Age.’ ACL works with the Aging Network and partners across the country to help older adults and their families do exactly that, and it is always wonderful to have an opportunity like this to engage with some of the people we serve.”

"Every day, Meals on Wheels of Takoma Park’s volunteers help us make a difference in the lives of the homebound seniors we serve, and we are so grateful to have had this opportunity to share that true volunteer experience with the Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary,” said Jill Feasley, Director, Meals on Wheels of Takoma Park.

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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, 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.

About The Administration for Community Living
ACL was created around the fundamental principle that all people, regardless of age or disability, should be able to live independently and fully participate in their communities. By advocating across the federal government for older adults, people with disabilities, and families and caregivers; funding services and supports provided by primarily by networks of community-based organizations; and investing in training, education, research and innovation, ACL helps makes this principle a reality for millions of Americans.

Press Contact:
Jenny Bertolette Young
Meals on Wheels America
571-339-1603
jenny@mealsonwheelsamerica.org