Ocean County Leader

In a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) strongly advocated for robust federal funding for programs that provide critical nutritional services for seniors, including Meals on Wheels of Ocean and Monmouth Counties and other community-based initiatives that deliver hot meals to seniors in need.

“With the appropriations process underway, I urge you to ensure that sufficient funding is provided for the Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III-C Nutrition Services program—a program that serves as an essential lifeline for millions of our nation’s seniors, including many of my constituents,” Smith wrote in his letter to Cole.

“Across the nation, this critical funding allows over 260 million meals to be delivered to nearly 2.2 million seniors annually—tens of thousands of whom live in New Jersey,” said Smith. “In Ocean and Monmouth counties alone, Meals on Wheels delivers 600,000 meals each year to local seniors.”

“Not only has the program delivered proven results in boosting seniors’ nutritional and health outcomes, but it also offers significant support to those who wish to remain safe in their own homes as they continue to age,” Smith said, noting that isolation can often be an issue for older Americans. “The need for these services is so great that, for many seniors, the meals they receive through this program constitute much of their daily food intake while also offering added socialization.”

Smith noted the effectiveness of the program, citing a recent survey conducted by Meals on Wheels of Ocean County, which delivers over 250,000 meals each year to local seniors. According to the study:

· 99 percent of program participants feel more confident living independently receiving home-delivered meals;

· 97 percent are satisfied with the quality and variety of the food; and

· 95 percent say receiving daily home-delivered meals makes them feel less lonely.

“These results speak to the clear impact of this program in helping our nation’s seniors thrive,” said Smith. “Strengthened funding will allow this effective community-based program to continue making a difference for senior health, safety, and relational well-being.”