How would you feed yourself if you were old, poor, alone and homebound? In an ideal world, no one would have to face those circumstances. But Ira Riklis knows that many elderly people face that unpleasant reality every day. New York City alone is home to nearly 1.3 million senior citizens. And the fastest growing segment of this group is those people 85 and older. More than half of them are minorities, and nearly 20 percent have a household income of less than $10,000. Worse, many have limited mobility that makes it difficult or nearly impossible for them to leave their homes.
Fortunately, there is a place they can turn for help. Citymeals-on-Wheels, formed in 1981, brings both wholesome meals and human contact to 18,000 of New York’s elderly shut-ins every day. Without this help, many of these people would go hungry as they sat alone at home. Touched by their plight, Ira Riklis has provided significant funding for the organization for several years. His support has placed him among the ranks of the group’s “Very Grand Patrons.” But as with all the wonderful organizations he supports, he feels not so “grand” as privileged to be able to join with other in such an important effort. And he encourages others to extend a helping hand to similar groups in their home towns.
www.citymeals.org/