Meals On Wheels Of RI Gets $150K Grant For COVID-19 Recovery Efforts

PROVIDENCE, RI — Meals on Wheels Rhode Island was awarded $150,000 in federal funding for COVID-19 recovery efforts across the Ocean State, Gov. Dan McKee said Tuesday.

McKee said the funding comes from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. The award will support 150 AmeriCorps Senior volunteers in Providence.

"We're grateful for this grant, which will provide education and critical information on health care and COVID-19 to our state's seniors." McKee said in a statement. "Our Administration is committed to making Rhode Island the best state for seniors, and this resource brings us one step closer to achieving that goal."

State officials said the grant uses American Rescue Plan money to support diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility, as well as assist states with low vaccination rates and expand services in communities that are addressing the root causes of poverty.

Through Meals on Wheels, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will conduct outreach centered on health education to home bound older adults in Providence. State officials said the primary focus of this project is access to care.

At the end of the two-year grant, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will be responsible for having provided 300 Meals on Wheels of RI clients with increased health knowledge via outreach with educational materials related to senior healthcare, including for COVID-19 preventative measures, officials said.