The Issue

The Issue

The Lunch Box

The Escalating Issue of Senior Hunger

The Meals on Wheels network is comprised of 5,000 community-based programs across the country dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. The need is great, but Together, We Can Deliver.™ 


Our nation's senior population is growing and changing rapidly. 1 in 4 Americans is 60+, with 12,000 more turning 60 every day


Among Americans 60 and older:

  • 13% are veterans
  • 29% have a disability
  • 39% live alone


This population is set to reach 93m in the next decade, with 118m expected by 2060, increasing the number of seniors today by more than half. Older Americans of color will continue to make up an increasingly more significant portion of this population.

Population Increase

Older Americans Are Living Longer With Less Money

Seniors on fixed incomes are especially vulnerable to inflation and cost of living increases. The U.S. is currently experiencing the highest inflation in 40 years. 1 in 2 seniors living alone lacks the income to pay for basic needs.

Seniors Are at Greater Risk of Hunger and Malnutrition

About 10 million seniors are threatened by or experience hunger. Food insecurity disproportionately affects older adults of color:


  • 17% of black seniors
  • 14% of Hispanic seniors
  • 10% of seniors who identified as Asian America, Pacific Islander, Native American or multi-racial
  • 6% of non-Hispanic seniors
  • 6% of white seniors


Older adults are already at higher risk of malnutrition due to decreased appetite, mobility issues, prescription medications, and more.

The Meals on Wheels Solution Starts With the Meal and Delivers So Much More

The Meals on Wheels program serves more than 247 million meals annually, feeding 2.8 million seniors annually. Of home-delivered meal participants:


  • 77% say the meals help improve their health
  • 85% say the services help them feel more secure
  • 92% say the meals help them live independently


Act now and help us reach more seniors in need. The Lunch Box provides several volunteer opportunities to help give back where it counts. Please call us today for more information.

Share by: