The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) in collaboration with the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) has tripled the number of senior developments receiving meals. The number of developments served has temporarily gone from three to nine. The program initially served Emlen Arms, Cassie L. Holley, and Wilson. The additional sites include Plymouth Hall, Warnock Village, Gladys B. Jacobs, Blumberg/Sharswood, Germantown House, and Parkview.
PCA coordinates a broad range of services that help older Philadelphians live as independently as possible, including home-delivered meals and congregate meals in senior centers.
“We thank PCA for partnering with us to serve people who are among the most vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic,” PHA president and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah said. “While good nutrition is important to maintain good health, it’s also important that seniors be able to limit their trips outside their residences to avoid exposure to this virus.”
PHA’s place based and senior programs have stayed in contact with all senior sites to address their needs and concerns since the shelter in place order was issued. The agency has maintained consistent communication and partnership with resident leadership during the health emergency. Under the current schedule, PCA is delivering 1,200 meals a week to nine PHA senior sites.
“PCA is proud to continue to work with PHA to address the challenges older adults are facing in their communities, including food insecurity” PCA president and CEO Najja Orr said. “Together, we are overcoming the hurdles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure older adults have access to healthy and nutritious food, even as they maintain compliance with stay-at-home orders.”
PCA employs an experienced, registered dietitian who ensures all meals are nutritionally appropriate. Through its network of senior community centers, PCA has provided more than 25,000 grab & go meals to older adults in the community in the past five weeks. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, both PCA’s grab & go meals and home-delivered meal programs have provided more than 180,000 meals to older adults.
Leave a Comment