ATLANTA – Georgia’s Division of Aging Services (DAS) will use grant funding to offer home-delivered meals to vulnerable adults. The $4.6 million grant, awarded by the Administration for Community Living, will allow Georgia to serve many adults who may not have previously received the agency’s services, but who now need additional assistance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grant will allow Georgia to feed more vulnerable people, including those who have been sheltered at home during the pandemic, and others facing economic challenges.

“Addressing senior hunger is a key priority in Georgia, and this grant will allow us to expand our efforts and serve more Georgians affected by food insecurity during a time when so many more people are in vulnerable or uncertain situations,” said Robyn A. Crittenden, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Services.

Home-delivered meals ensure recipients have access to nutritious food while being protected from the coronavirus and other potential health threats. People previously receiving congregate meals at a senior center or in another community setting have now been able to receive home-delivered meals as a result of this funding.

“As meal delivery expands, so does our need for volunteers,” said Department of Human Services Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Aging Services Abby Cox. “Volunteers do so much more than just deliver meals – they show up for someone in need and provide a warm meal and a kind word, which can be a lifeline for seniors struggling with isolation.”

To learn more about volunteering to deliver meals to seniors or disabled adults in your community, connect with your local Area Agency on Aging or visit aging.georgia.gov.

About the Georgia Division of Aging Services

The Division of Aging Services is the division within the Department of Human Services charged with assisting and protecting Georgia’s older individuals, at-risk adults, persons with disabilities, their families and caregivers to achieve safe, healthy, independent and self-reliant lives.