LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – This holiday season, an essential resource for thousands of homebound seniors in the Las Vegas Valley is growing.
Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada has expanded its Meals on Wheels program, which is now delivering 2,500 meals daily to seniors across the region.
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto toured the newly renovated facility on Friday to see firsthand how federal funding is making an impact.
Thanks to federal funding secured through the American Rescue Plan and other legislation, the program has doubled its capacity in recent years, allowing more seniors to stay fed and cared for especially amid the holidays.
“I would love to say that the need is not there, I would love to say we don’t have a homeless problem, we don’t have seniors who are struggling right now but we do, said Sen. Cortez Masto. “It’s important for me to see that need, to talk to Deacon Tom and his staff regularly, and to see it for myself.”
With the help of the new equipment, staff at the Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada can prepare meals faster, flash freeze it and deliver it to seniors more efficiently.
Sen. Cortez Masto met with Catholic Charities President Deacon Tom Roberts, who has led the organization for over a decade. Under his leadership, the Meals on Wheels program has grown significantly.
“It’s a much more production based, efficient program, that makes it easier for the staff, also makes it more crisp,” said Deacon Roberts. “So menu engineering, and recipes, and all those things that are important are very directed, based on the equipment and that capacity is going to allow us to do more.”
Deacon Roberts says he is proud of the expansion they were able to achieve and as he prepares for his retirement in the next few weeks he’s hopeful about the work Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada will continue to achieve.
Currently there are 1000 seniors on the waiting list to receive assistance from the Meals on Wheels Program, Deacon Roberts says they have the capacity to feed those people but they’re going to need more help from the federal government to make that possible.
The eligibility to become a recipient of the Meals on Wheels program includes being at least 60 years old, being homebound due to illness, physical or cognitive impairment, or geographic isolation, and they must be a year-round resident of Las Vegas or North Las Vegas.
To sign up to receive meals from the program, seniors can fill out the referral application on the Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada website.
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