Citymeals on Wheels is the largest non-profit meals on wheels program in the country.

Beth Shapiro, executive director of Citymeals on Wheels, joins “In Focus” to discuss how much the organization has evolved over the last four decades.

She, along with legendary cookbook author James Beard, were especially concerned that they were not receiving meals on weekends and holidays.

Shapiro discusses the launch of Citymeals on Wheels and what the non-profit does today. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, Citymeals has delivered some 65 million nutritious meals.

Shapiro also talks about some of the people the organization serves, including veterans, Holocaust survivors and the chronically disabled. More than 60% of recipients are over 80-years-old, including 200 people who have lived at least a century.

Shapiro explains how Citymeals has stepped up to the plate during the COVID-19 pandemic, a crisis with no real end in sight. Citymeals has seen a 10% increase in meal recipients since the start of the pandemic.

Shapiro also addresses the growing hunger crisis and increased isolation issues facing elderly New Yorkers and discusses the increased demand among seniors for home-delivered meals due to pandemic-era programming coming to an end.