NEW HOPE, Minn. — Metro Meals on Wheels hosted its annual "Blizzard Bag Blitz" in New Hope on Thursday morning to ensure seniors have access to shelf-stable meals during storms this coming winter.
It comes amid an avalanche of demand that hasn't relented since the pandemic.
"We keep serving a record number of meals," said Patrick Rowan, Executive Director of Metro Meals on Wheels. "Seniors are living on a fixed income, we have an increase in property taxes, an increase in food costs and an increase in medical expenses. All those factors are combining for record demand."
Despite serving a record number of meals every year since the pandemic, Metro Meals on Wheels saw demand rise another 19% in 2023. In total, the organization says meal deliveries are up 71% since 2019.
Rowan said Metro Meals on Wheels depends on a network of 14,000 volunteers to meet that demand for meals and deliveries, but he said the need for donations of money and time are still needed to keep up with the rising need.
That surging need isn't limited to Meals on Wheels either.
"Senior food shelf visits are up well over 50% in the past couple years," said Sophia Lenarz-Coy, Executive Director of The Food Group, which works to help stock local food shelves.
In order to help address that need in a different way, The Food Group has made a habit of opening its warehouse for the annual "Blizzard Bag Blitz". Hundreds of volunteers, many with local companies, spent the day filling those emergency food bags so that our most vulnerable residents don't go hungry when cold weather stands in the way of a warm meal.
"Inevitably, there will be at least one day this year where we have to shut down due to volunteer safety because of a blizzard or an ice storm or something like that," Rowan said. "In the event that we're not able to deliver due to inclement weather, our senior neighbors and people with disabilities will have that food on hand."