Those words speak of hope, vitality and a love of life. The fact that they were spoken by Mildred, a 95-year-old New York native who lives alone with arthritis, cataracts and a heart problem, make them all the more remarkable. In spite of the challenges she faces, her spirit remains strong. “It doesn’t matter what you’ve been through,” she says, “It matters that you’re a good person.” And it good people like Mildred, who live alone, often in poverty and unable to leave their apartments, that Citymeals-on-Wheels, an outreach effort to deliver food and human contact to disadvantaged senior citizens was founded to serve. And it the help, hope and nourishment the groups provides that have made Ira Riklis a long-time supporter.
The statistics for the number of seniors in similar situations in New York City alone are sobering. Chefs James Beard and Gael Greene formed the group in 1981 to meet what was thought to be a temporary need. But the need has grown steadily over the years and CityMeals has grown to keep pace. Another thing that Ira Riklis appreciates about this group is that they not only provide nourishing food to nearly 18,000 seniors, they also provide equally important human companionship for these people who have great difficulty ever leaving their apartments. And that’s vital for keeping their spirits strong.