Ensuring No Senior Goes Hungry—Even When the Unexpected Happens
Life is unpredictable. Severe weather, power outages, or unexpected emergencies can temporarily disrupt regular meal delivery. For homebound seniors, even one missed meal can lead to serious health and safety concerns.
Meals For The Elderly created the Emergency Meals Program to ensure every recipient has access to nutritious food—no matter what challenges arise. By providing ready-to-eat meals that can be safely stored and used anytime, we help protect the well-being of the seniors who depend on us every day.
What Are Emergency Meals?
Emergency Meals are shelf-stable, easy-to-open, ready-to-eat food items designed to be kept on hand for situations when normal meal delivery is not possible. These meals typically include:
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Non-perishable entrées - cereal, oatmeal, coffee, tea bags, PB&J tubes, breakfast drink or soups
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Healthy snacks
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Fruit cups or applesauce
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Crackers or bread items
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Bottled water or juice
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Safety Kit - mask, sanitizer wipes, flashlight, whistle, band-aids, antibiotic ointment, ER blanket, purifier tablets, alcohol preps, latex glove, ER # card
Each meal is packaged so that seniors with limited mobility or strength can open and consume them without difficulty.
Why Emergency Meals Matter
Homebound older adults face unique vulnerabilities. Many:
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Cannot drive or safely leave home
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Do not have access to regular groceries
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Have medical conditions that require consistent nutrition
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Live alone with no one to check in during emergencies
A prepared, shelf-stable meal can be a lifeline. This program ensures that no senior is left without food during weather-related shutdowns, holidays, or other unforeseen events.
How the Program Works
Meals For The Elderly ensures that each recipient receives at least one Emergency Meal pack every year—usually ahead of severe weather season. Each ER meal has 2 days worth of food along with safety kit. Additional meals may be delivered during:
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Extreme heat or winter storms
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Hazardous road conditions
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Citywide emergencies
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Utility outages
When a closure is anticipated, meals are delivered in advance with clear instructions for use.
Recipients are encouraged to store their Emergency Meal in a safe, accessible place and only use it if their regular meal is not delivered.
Who Receives Emergency Meals?
All active Meals For The Elderly recipients automatically qualify. The program is provided at no cost as part of our commitment to keeping seniors nourished and safe throughout the year.
How You Can Support This Program
Emergency Meals require specialized food items and packaging, which increases cost. You can help ensure every senior is prepared by:
Donating Funds
Your contribution helps us purchase shelf-stable meals in bulk and stock our emergency inventory.
Sponsoring Emergency Meal Kits
Businesses, service groups, and individuals can sponsor meals for a day, a route, or an entire neighborhood.
Donating Non-Perishable Foods
We accept select shelf-stable items suitable for seniors—contact our office for accepted products.
Donate Today to help us protect the seniors who rely on us—especially in times of crisis.
A Lifeline When It’s Needed Most
Emergencies can create uncertainty, but hunger should never be part of that equation. With your support, the Emergency Meals Program ensures our seniors remain nourished, safe, and reassured—no matter what tomorrow brings.
