Advocates for Senior Citizens Call on New York City Council to Improve Meal Services

by Stephanie Colombini | 04/08/2014 | 3:14pm

Advocates for Senior Citizens Call on New York City Council to Improve Meal Services

Advocates expressed concerns about meal options at senior centers and home-delivery services at a Council hearing today.

Tom Connor's a senior citizen from Greenwich Village. He says his center serves waterlogged vegetables most people can't bring themselves to eat. 

Connor says he's complained to New York City's Department for the Aging. But he says they haven't taken any action. 

"We want the meals to be served hot, nutritious, and food that you would want yourself," he said.

That includes more variety in the foods served at senior centers, including more ethnic options that better represent the communities they cater to.

Advocates for Jewish senior citizens are calling for more kosher meal options. Leah Ferster's with the Jewish Association Serving the Aging.  She says the city gives the non-profit agency a certain amount of money for each meal it provides.  But kosher foods exceed the budget.

"With more money going to the cost of kosher meals, there is less funding in the center budget to provide educational, social, and health programs," she said. "However, if we did not provide the culturally relevant meals, fewer seniors would participate in our programs."

City Council members and representatives from the Department for the Aging say they're advocating for more funding in the next budget season to improve the situation.

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