{"id":54151,"date":"2025-11-27T16:05:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T16:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/54151\/"},"modified":"2025-11-27T16:05:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T16:05:08","slug":"citymeals-on-wheels-offers-food-connection-for-bronx-older-adults-bronx-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/54151\/","title":{"rendered":"Citymeals on Wheels offers food, connection for Bronx older adults \u2013 Bronx Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Bernito Diaz, 66, struggles to leave home after contracting long COVID and relies on twice-weekly deliveries from Citymeals on Wheels. <\/p>\n

Photo by Emily Swanson <\/p>\n

This holiday season, Citymeals on Wheels is providing a lifeline to older adults who struggle with leaving their homes and affording food.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Thanksgiving is the biggest day of the year for Citymeals on Wheels, when hundreds of volunteers will help deliver 16,000 meals complete with all the trimmings and make phone calls to check in with homebound residents. <\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not just about the holidays: throughout each year, the organization delivers approximately 2.2 million meals to 22,000 homebound residents across all five boroughs.<\/p>\n

Rachel Sherrow, chief operating officer, said Citymeals\u2019 clients not only have difficulty with shopping and cooking, but many are on fixed incomes with no wiggle room during even a temporary setback, such as the \u201ctraumatic\u201d federal government shutdown that temporarily cut off SNAP benefits this month, she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since the holiday season revolves largely around food and socialization, which too many of the city\u2019s older adults lack, Citymeals on Wheels plays a vital role in ensuring residents are well-fed and checked on.<\/p>\n

The organization holds holiday celebrations at older adult centers, along with home deliveries that provide \u201csomething reminiscent of the American style of Thanksgiving,\u201d with options for ham, pernil or other items, Sherrow said.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

But no matter what\u2019s in the boxes, the meals are always delivered alongside a few moments of friendly connection, she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not Uber Eats, it\u2019s not leaving it on the doorknob.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"During a visit with Citymeals staff, Victor Moreno (right) delivered three meals to Bernito Diaz (left). Photo by Emily Swanson<\/p>\n

Victor Moreno, who delivers food for Citymeals, is part of the massive logistical operation that ensures seniors are taken care of during the holidays and beyond.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Each day\u2019s work begins at the warehouse at 7 a.m., where staff carefully match prepared meals with the right recipients to ensure food allergies or restrictions are accommodated, said Moreno.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He said his Nov. 25 route has 59 stops and is expected to take four to six hours. Although his route varies daily, he said he always brings the meals directly to the person\u2019s door (waiting patiently when necessary) and spends a few minutes chatting.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a grandma, I have an uncle and I have a grandpa, so I treat everyone like family \u2014the way they\u2019re supposed to be treated,\u201d Moreno said.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Bernito Diaz, 66, who lives in the Grand Concourse area, received his Citymeals delivery from Moreno, which included baked fish, chicken stir fry and a Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, cranberries and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Hundreds of volunteers help make Thanksgiving the biggest day of the year for Citymeals on Wheels. Photo courtesy Citymeals on Wheels<\/p>\n

Seniors like Diaz are the fastest-growing population in the city and 1 in 10 of them face food insecurity, according to Citymeals officials.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Diaz\u2019s life has changed drastically in recent years. He\u2019s lived in the Bronx since age five.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI know this place like the back of my hand,\u201d he said, but most days, all he can do now is watch out his fifth-story window.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Diaz used to enjoy an active life and worked as a plumber. But in 2020, he contracted COVID-19, which left him with severe symptoms \u2014nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, trembling hands\u2014 that have plagued him every day for years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Diaz said he went to the emergency room seven times this year, but no amount of testing or medication has substantially improved his health.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Through these unexpected challenges, Diaz said he\u2019s relied on Citymeals on Wheels, which provides him with twice-weekly deliveries.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI appreciate what Citymeals is doing for me,\u201d he said. \u201cIf it wasn\u2019t for this program, I might not be alive now.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

He said city officials should pay more attention to the needs of poor New Yorkers and ensure Citymeals and similar programs remain funded. Citymeals receives very little federal funding but relies mainly on donations and partnerships, according to Sherrow. \u201cThey need to keep this program alive,\u201d Diaz said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite the debilitating illness that he struggles with every day, Diaz said he\u2019s determined to stay strong and to enjoy Thanksgiving with his girlfriend and her eight grandchildren.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to fight,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m going to fight this all the way, I promise you.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Reach Emily Swanson at\u00a0eswanson@schnepsmedia.com<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0(646) 717-0015<\/a>. For more coverage, subscribe to our\u00a0newsletter<\/a>\u00a0and follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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