Dutchess County food program caters to vulnerable elders

Dutchess County’s food program is catering to vulnerable elders during the COVD-19 pandemic.

News 12 Staff

May 19, 2020, 6:16 PM

Updated 1,437 days ago

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Dutchess County's food program is catering to vulnerable elders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The county's Office for the Aging program brings food to seniors who are homebound due to injury, illness or unable to cook for themselves. It brings food five days a week.
"I signed up so I would not have to go out and purchase our food," says meal recipient Mary Means. "…Bring it right to the door and that makes it more easy for me and my husband."
The home-delivered meal arrangement expanded during the pandemic by 350% and has delivered over 34,000 meals since March.
However, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro says the program isn't calculated in the loss in revenue that they'll see. The county is already losing an estimated $50 million in revenue due to the pandemic.
News 12 is told Molinaro and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney volunteered to assist this week.
"All of our volunteers go out wearing a face covering, so in most cases, the senior citizen doesn't know who's at their door. They don't know it's a congressman or a county executive or a doctor who is choosing to volunteer," says Molinaro. "They just know some friendly person on behalf of Dutchess County's office for the aging showed up to be of some help."
Those who would like to volunteer can call 845-486-2545.
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