Happening Now: The government shutdown is creating real challenges for programs that serve older adults — and your voice can make a difference. As we continue to monitor the situation in Washington, Congress needs to hear from you today about the urgent need to protect seniors and the programs they rely on.
Meals on Wheels San Antonio is powered by people just like you. Together, we are thousands of volunteers, dedicated staff, and donors strong who help deliver over 4,000 meals to thousands of seniors. We need your help to fund and protect our program that supports older adults.
Simply maintaining current funding levels isn’t an acceptable outcome, and in fact, it would represent a funding cut at a time when more investments are desperately needed. Studies have shown that Meals on Wheels programs have a positive impact on the community, ensuring seniors receive a home-delivered meal and a safety check provided by neighbors volunteering in their community.
"Even though Meals on Wheels serves more than 2 million seniors, we know that an additional 2.5 million likely need meals but are not receiving essential services, and 1 in 3 providers already has a waitlist", says Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America.
While we serve 4,000 meals in South Central Texas, thousands more in San Antonio, Bexar County, and surrounding areas need our support. Our current waitlist is nearly eight months long.
Now, seniors depend on us to speak out and demand action—contact your Senators and Representatives today!
Tips when calling elected officials
It is beneficial to contact your members of Congress through phone calls in addition to emails, as calls signal a higher level of engagement. To prepare, save the D.C. phone numbers of your representatives and senators and understand their priorities. When calling, you may reach a staff member, receive voicemail, or hear a message indicating that no one is available. Start by identifying yourself as a constituent with your zip code and then share your message or concerns. It's essential to request a response to demonstrate your commitment to the issue. Keep your calls brief, stay cordial, and don’t hesitate to ask questions. The key takeaway is to call regularly and make your voice heard on issues that matter to you.
When you call, one of three things will happen:
- A staffer picks up
- You get voicemail
- You hear a message about no one being available and can’t leave a voicemail
If you speak to a staffer, make sure to identify yourself as a constituent from your zip code. The staff might ask for your full address to confirm you are a constituent.
If you call and get voicemail, you can always follow that up with an email letting them know that you tried calling and either left a voicemail or that you couldn't leave a voicemail and were frustrated by that!
how to email elected officials
Do you need to send an email to your elected official? There's a template for that! Click the button below to show your support for America's seniors. The page provides you with an easy format in which you can be active and engage with your elected officials to help make a difference in your community. All you have to do is complete the information in the link below and you'll be on your way to helping us continue delivering More Than A Meal!
We can't thank you enough for your time and dedication to serving the seniors in our community and helping us continue to provide a warm meal, a friendly visit and a safety check!
Please click the links below if you would like to continue to learn more about our services or contribute by donating to our organization!