Image zoom | Credit: Courtesy of Meals on Wheels America
Ellie Hollander has seen Meals on Wheels America through crises before. She joined in 2013, when the federal budget sequestration forced cuts to the organization. But the nonprofit whose 100,000 staff members and 2 million volunteers feed vulnerable seniors and those with limited mobility has never been faced with a challenge quite like this one.
The COVID-19 pandemic created a perfect storm. Food insecurity spiked across the country. Making deliveries became a challenge due to social distancing requirements. Meals could no longer be sent to senior-care centers or served in group settings. Groceries and personal protective equipment became more expensive and sometimes harder to find as different parts of the country struggled with supply issues. The senior population in the U.S. was already growing e