Food is a human right
See our current senior meal delivery and long-term food security plan below.
Senior Meal Delivery
1. Support for low-income seniors and disabled
Delivery of healthy meals to older adults and disabled younger living in low income housing complexes.
2. Support for locally owned businesses
3. Delivery of hard-to-find hygiene supplies and masks
Essential items like bath tissue, soap, and disinfectants have been scarce. With help from staff of Duke’s Community Outreach office and student volunteers, we’ve been able to make deliveries to most of the 16 sites we serve plus the Durham Center for Senior Life.
1. Health Promoters living on-site
EHD will provide stipends to train and organize resident leaders to encourage COVID-19 prevention measures, promote health education, and connect people to resources. Healthy Promoters are similar to Community Health Workers.
We need help to continue their work beyond September and bolster their efforts for community improvements.
2. Access to Information and Resources
EHD has joined with other local agencies to address the digital divide so seniors can order groceries, find resources, and communicate with family and friends.
For those who cannot use a tablet or computer, even in a common setting, newsletters with updates on COVID-19, information on food access, and more will continue to be delivered.
3. Improved transportation to grocery stores
EHD has worked with GoTriangle to design a pilot Senior Shuttle. Vans will stop at 6 senior housing communities and go straight to their favorite stores. The shuttle will decrease exposure on the public bus and the time spent on travel and transfers. This plan will go into effect in coming months. We will evaluate and hopefully expand to more locations.
