SURVEY ON 6TH WEEKEND MEAL PROGRAM FOR THE ELDERLY: SENIORS ARE NOT THROWING THEIR WEEKEND MEALS AWAY
JUNE 2, 2003

“SENIORS EAT ON WEEKENDS, TOO”

The Council of Senior Centers and Services (CSCS) surveyed 150 senior centers, and the findings clearly indicate that seniors are not throwing meals away and that they need the weekend meals – 93% of senior centers report that seniors like their nutritious meals - and 50% report that seniors would go hungry without the meals. * Based on the list of senior centers we have that originally provided the weekend meals, CSCS called each program to find out if they provided meals and satisfaction with the food provided.

• 75% of the senior centers have kept the weekend meals – 102 out of the150 that originally provided the meals continue to give meals to 7500 seniors citywide. 

• Seniors benefit from the meals in a variety of ways. Meal providers reported that –

  • 93% of the senior centers reported that the seniors like the food. In instances, where they did not like the food, it was frozen meals.

  • 50% of the senior centers reported that seniors would go hungry if the weekend meals were eliminated

  • 75% reported seniors need the meal because it saves them money and they live on a low fixed income (many live below the poverty level)

  • 60% reported that seniors need the meals for their nutritional value

  • 87% reported that seniors would eat less nutritiously on weekends without this meal

  • 65% reported that seniors would have to spend more money on meals which is difficult on a low fixed income

  • 80% reported that seniors have difficulty shopping and cooking for themselves

  • 88% reported that seniors live alone and often don’t cook for themselves

These results paint a compelling picture of who is benefiting from weekend meals calling for the $1.7 million restoration of this critical program:

• Seniors who would go hungry over the weekend without these meals

• Seniors living in poverty or on low fixed incomes

• Seniors who benefit from eating more nutritious food

• Seniors living alone

• Seniors who have difficulty shopping and cooking for themselves

* The Department for the Aging’s (DFTA) numbers are somewhat higher as they may have more senior centers on their list than we do. According to DFTA, there were originally about 160 senior centers with about 130 continuing the weekend meal provision. The number of total seniors receiving meals, 7500, is the same.

For further information, please contact Bobbie Sackman, Director of Public Policy, (212) 398-6565, ext. 226 or bsackman@cscs-ny.org