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Advocate:
MeMaw Is Waiting

Senior hunger is an urgent crisis in America. Right now, millions of seniors — like MeMaw, Auntie, Abuelo and Gramps — are waiting for nutritious meals and moments of connection. Together, our voices are amplified and we can make a difference in the lives of America’s seniors.

Email Congress
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Tell Congress to Protect Older Americans

Black male senior sitting on couch smiling with the words "Gramps in waiting"

Meals on Wheels programs and the seniors they serve need your help! The Older Americans Act (OAA) is the primary source of federal funding for senior nutrition programs nationwide, supporting more than 244 million meals each year for 2.6 million older adults. Yet millions of seniors remain at risk of hunger and isolation — like MeMaw, Unc, Abuelita and Papa — and many local programs are struggling to meet growing demand due to rising food, fuel and labor costs.

We are urging Congress to provide $2.285 billion for the Older Americans Act Title III-C Nutrition Services in the FY2027 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. A continuing resolution (CR) is not enough to address the unmet need present for seniors across the country.

Now is a critical time to act. Simply enter your name and address below to send a message to your members of Congress urging them to protect and strengthen Meals on Wheels programs in your community. Your voice makes a difference!

Email Congress

Explore More Ways to Advocate

There are many ways to make your voice heard. Even taking just a few minutes, every action helps support older adults in your community.

Call Your Members of Congress

A quick phone call is one of the most effective ways to make your voice heard. Use the script to get started. Contact your senators’ and representative’s Washington, D.C., offices by dialing the Capitol Switchboard using our toll-free number:

1-800-985-9059

  • When calling, you’ll need to provide your ZIP code and indicate whether you’d like to speak with your House representative or senator.
  • We encourage you to make at least three phone calls — one to each of your state’s two senators and one to your representative.

Use the call script to urge your members of Congress to support Meals on Wheels America’s request to increase funding for the Older Americans Title III-C Nutrition Program to $2.285 billion in fiscal year 2027. This increase would enable local providers to address the high levels of unmet need across the country.

Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I’m calling from [CITY, STATE].

I’m reaching out to urge  [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR]  to  support increasing funding for the Older Americans Act Title III-C Nutrition Program to $2.285 billion in fiscal year 2027.

This increased funding would address the high levels of unmet need — allowing local Meals on Wheels programs to increase their capacity and End the Wait for nutritious meals and moments of connection. A continuing resolution (CR) is not enough to address the unmet need present for seniors across the country.

This investment would help ensure that every senior who needs Meals on Wheels gets it, allowing them to age with dignity.

Our seniors are waiting for you to take action. Please support this funding increase and protect the programs they depend on.

Thank you for your time.

Take the Next Step

Take your advocacy further with tools and resources designed to help you raise awareness and connect with decision-makers.

Find Your Elected Official
Find Your Elected Official

Learn more about who your federal and state elected officials are and how to contact them directly.

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Send a Postcard to Congress
Send a Postcard to Congress

Download and print a postcard to share your message with elected officials and raise awareness in your community.

Download Post Card

Share on Facebook
Share on Facebook

Share our Facebook post to help amplify the message and encourage others to take action for older adults in need.

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MeMaw Is Waiting

See Why This Matters

Funding provided by the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program helps the Meals on Wheels network deliver life-saving benefits nationwide. While the need for Meals on Wheels is rapidly growing, federal funding is not keeping pace, leaving Meals on Wheels providers who already operate on razor-thin margins even more stretched and seniors without the meals they need.

Watch how Meals on Wheels is supporting older adults across the country and why urgent action is needed to ensure no senior is left waiting for meals and connection.

No Senior Should Have to Wait

As demand continues to grow, local providers need our support. Your donation helps ensure older adults receive the meals and care they need when they need it most.

Donate Today

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