(Gloucester Township, NJ) – The Camden County Board of Commissioners marked a major milestone in its Home Delivered Meal program this week with the delivery of the one-millionth meal through its partnership with the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA). Since 2017, the County has worked with SJTA to expand delivery services using the Authority’s specialized delivery vehicles equipped with hot and cold storage, ensuring food safety and proper temperature for every meal delivered.
“This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring food security for our senior residents,” said Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services. “The Home Delivered Meals program provides a sense of dignity and independence to our seniors, and every meal delivered is a reminder that they are not alone.”
Gloucester Township resident Dolores Hilferty was the recipient of the one-millionth meal. Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, Commissioner Jennifer Fleisher, Surrogate Michelle Gentek-Mayer, Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer, Gloucester Township Councilwoman Helen Albright Troxell, and Gloucester Township Councilman Ciri Castro Jr., were joined by representatives from the SJTA and the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services to celebrate the momentous occasion.
Congressman Donald Norcross credited the Older Americans Act for the impact the program has had in Camden County and other areas of his district.
“This week, we celebrate one million meals delivered to seniors in our community, a major milestone for our Home Delivered Meal program and the goal of combating food insecurity,” Norcross said. “This program, made possible through the Older Americans Act, ensures that no senior is left hungry or forgotten. During a time when the Trump Administration has slashed food assistance programs, we need programs made possible through the Older Americans Act now more than ever before. Everyone deserves access to a nutritious meal, and I’m honored to say that we’ve delivered that to one million individuals in South Jersey.”
The Camden County Home Delivered Meals program provides over 400 Camden County seniors with one ready-to-eat meal, delivered every weekday, at no cost to the participants. There is currently no wait list for Home Delivered Meals.
To be eligible for the Home Delivered Meals program, an individual must:
• Reside in Camden County and be age 60 years or older
• Be unable to leave home without the assistance of another person
• Be unable to prepare a nutritious meal for themselves
• Not be a recipient of Medicaid Managed Long Term Support Services (MLTSS)
If you or a senior you know needs meal assistance, please call 856-374-MEAL (6325) to get started.