Camden County Delivers More Than 58K Meals To Seniors In Need

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — More than 58,000 meals have been delivered to seniors since the Camden County Division of Senior and Disabled Services expanded its meal delivery program in response to the outbreak of new coronavirus, officials announced.

In total, nearly 2,000 individual seniors have received nutritious meals as they navigate the unprecedented crisis represented by coronavirus. From April 22 to 27, the Division delivered more than 11,800 meals countywide. More meals were delivered on April 27 than any other day this month, with 3,966 being distributed to those in need.

“The Freeholder Board will not allow the public health and economic crises caused by coronavirus to snowball into a hunger crisis as well. If you are a Camden County resident in need of meal assistance during this pandemic, you will not be abandoned,” Camden County Freeholder Jonathan Young said. “At the beginning of March, the meals program was serving approximately 500 clients. In six weeks, the need for home-delivered meals has grown exponentially, and we have successfully scaled up our operation to an unprecedented level of service.”

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Meals have been delivered to seniors in 36 municipalities. March 30 remains the largest day for the program, with more than 4,000 meals having been delivered.

“Thanks to the hard-working men and women at the Department of Health, Division of Senior Services, Public Works, Parks, Building and Ops, and other departments, we have been able to answer the call and meet this challenge head on,” Young said. “If not for the personnel continuing to make these deliveries each day, this simply would not be possible. We are indebted to these public servants for their integrity and for their dedication to the residents we serve.”

The Division of Senior and Disabled Services is delivering meals to new program participants. Anyone who knows a senior in need of meal assistance should call 856-374-MEAL or 856-858-3220 to make arrangements.

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know