LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles has a growing aging population, with over 18% of seniors in the city living at poverty levels. 

What You Need To Know

  • A COVID-era meal program that served almost 6,000 seniors in Los Angeles is set to end in August 

  • Los Angeles has a growing aging population, with over 18% of seniors in the city living in poverty

  • The program, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to end on August 31 after bids to extend its funding to the end of the year failed to pass

  • The Department of Aging will still receive funding through a grant, part of which will support congregate meal services such as Project Angel Food and Meals On Wheels

Now, a COVID-era meal program that served almost 6,000 seniors in Los Angeles is set to end in August unless outside funding is identified.

At 68-years-old, former New Yorker David Greenwald tries to stay active despite suffering from a stroke that affected his mobility and the use of his left arm.

“I was hospitalized for seven months. And I arrived in LA in a wheelchair,” said Greenwald. 

But about a year ago, Greenwald signed up for the Department Of Aging’s Rapid Response Senior Meal Program, a free service that delivered five nutritious meals a week, once going to the grocery store and preparing his food became too difficult.

“[It was] a major benefit just because of the time it takes to prepare meals, particularly not having use of my left hand,” said Greenwald. “And shopping. I have to carry things in a backpack.”

However, the program, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to end on August 31 after bids to extend its funding to the end of the year failed to pass. It serves almost 6,000 seniors across the city of LA every year.

Sam Polk, the CEO of Everytable, one of the food contractors with the Rapid Response Meal Program, says replacing those lost meals could be tricky for seniors.

“Look, there are programs — SNAP, EBT, Meals on Wheels — that they can apply for. But the truth is they’re going to be going to food banks, shelters, and other places that we have created as infrastructure for people who fall through the cracks. And that was the beautiful thing about the Rapid Response program, is it was really preventing people from falling through the cracks,” said Polk. 

Revolution Foods was another Rapid Response food contractor with the city. They told us they received a flier from the Department of Aging explaining that the program is ending on August 31. The flier came with instructions to distribute to seniors to alert them to the end of the program.

Beyond keeping seniors well-fed, Revolution Foods CEO Dominic Engels said another important program component was making seniors feel seen.

“As folks age, sad to say, but family dies, and they’re left alone and left without advocacy,” said Engels. “And they need to be seen and acknowledged, and this form of meal service was a form of acknowledgment to all of them.”

Even though Greenwald is worried about how he’ll fill the gap left behind by the Rapid Response program, he’s maintaining a positive attitude.

“I’m a resolute ex-New Yorker. I don’t give up. Whatever it takes is what I’ll do.”

The Department of Aging will still receive funding through a grant, part of which will support congregate meal services such as Project Angel Food and Meals On Wheels.   

Unless outside funding is identified and secured for the Rapid Response Senior Meal program, it will move forward and end on August 31.