It's the Brian Lear Show on WNYC.

I'm Amina Surnah, a producer for the Brian Lair Show, filling in for Brian today.

Thanksgiving, just one week away, is also the busiest time of year for many

organizations who provide food assistance to New Yorkers. And this year, some of the year-end report

findings are pretty stark. The Poverty Tracker Report, released by the charitable organization Robin Hood

and Columbia University, finds that over 40% of New York City families

can afford their weekly food costs. City Meals on Wheels, which says it's the nation's

largest operation to deliver meals to homebound seniors, says that here in the city, one in 10 New

Yorkers over the age of 60 already lack reliable access to affordable and nutritious food,

and that half of meal recipients surveyed by city meals rely on SNAP.

With us now to talk about one segment of New Yorkers who rely on food assistance programs.

This holiday season is Beth Shapiro, CEO of City Meals on Wheels. City Meals is the

nation's largest operation to deliver meals to homebound seniors. Beth, welcome back to WMIC.

Amina, thank you for having me. So as we say, City Meals delivers 2 million meals annually,

700,000 of which will be just this holiday season alone.

Can you tell us a bit about the people that you serve? What ages are they and where do they live?

City Meals is feeding homebound older New Yorkers across all five boroughs from 60 years old on. The average age of our meal recipient is 87, and I am honored, proud,

and sometimes shocked to say we are feeding over 500 people who are 100 years old or older in this

city. Grocery shopping can be a schlep, even for younger and able-bodied people.

Could you describe the unique challenges that older folks who often have mobility challenges might experience when they're trying to go grocery shopping?

Milk and all the rest of the groceries are really heavy.

Yeah, I think older adults in general often struggle, right, with carrying groceries.

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