Camden County Delivers More Than 120K Meals To Seniors In Need

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — More than 120,000 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, more than 3,000 individual seniors have received nutritious meals as they navigate the unprecedented crisis represented by coronavirus. From May 20 to May 26, the Division delivered nearly 17,000 meals countywide.

On May 22, 4,950 meals were delivered to those facing food insecurity, the most of any day since the beginning of the current public health crisis. May 4 is the second highest single-day total, when 4,358 meals were delivered. On March 30, more than 4,000 meals were delivered.

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Meals have been delivered to seniors in 36 municipalities. More individual clients (558) were served on May 4 than any other day since the expansion of the program.

“Our team has continued, week after week, to reach more residents and deliver more meals. Even as the spread of coronavirus has decreased, the risk of food insecurity has expanded as the economic fallout worsens,” Camden County Freeholder Jonathan Young said. “Our entire community owes a debt of gratitude to the incredible men and women at the Department of Health, Parks, Buildings and Ops, and all the other county employees who have stepped up and made these deliveries every day. We will continue to ensure that this public health crisis does not become a hunger crisis in Camden County.”

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