Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander, Board Chair Patti Lyons and Vice Chair Calvin Moore released a statement in response to the January 6, 2021 attack at the U.S. Capitol:
Meals on Wheels America stands with millions of our fellow Americans in condemning the deplorable and heinous attack on our democracy, which unfolded earlier this week at the U.S. Capitol. We further grieve the loss of life, the injury and trauma inflicted and the violent assault on the hallowed symbol of the freedoms, laws, and rights we stalwartly value and seek to uphold here at home and that serve as a model for others.
We are at a turning point in our history in which we must remain both hopeful and vigilant that the coronavirus pandemic will be quelled and that long-standing, systemic racial inequities and oppression facing Americans of color will finally be resolved. Now more than ever, elected officials at all levels and other national leaders—as well as all Americans—have a responsibility to come together as true patriots with courage, resolve, respect, and accountability to catalyze a more United States of America. We cannot afford anything less.
In the meantime, we will continue to lead and support local Meals on Wheels programs nationwide in addressing the injustices affecting millions of our older Americans who face hunger and loneliness every day. These are the people who taught us and helped to build and defend this country. We stand ready to work with all of our partners and supporters—including Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and the incoming Biden-Harris Administration—to ensure our senior nutrition programs are adequately resourced so that no senior is left behind, isolated or hungry.