Helping Seniors Like Marie

“Let not your hearts be troubled.” — John 14:1

Our commitment to combating hunger, isolation, and the fear of homelessness remains essential, especially during Older Americans Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, both recognized in May. We ensure that vulnerable, homebound seniors in LA County receive nutritious meals and vital support to thrive.

Daily interactions with our runners, drivers, social workers, and dietitians help combat loneliness. For seniors like Marie, these connections are lifelines; she expresses that without our team’s kindness, she “doesn’t know what she would do.”

Our services go #BeyondtheMeal, enabling seniors to remain in their homes while reducing the risk of homelessness. Our social work team conducts customized assessments to address each client’s unique needs. We provide healthy, medically tailored meals and vital initiatives such as the Home Sweet Home emergency fund, which offers one-time rent assistance and safety measures to prevent falls.

As the homeless population ages, many clients living at or below the poverty level face a constant fear of losing their homes. Projections indicate that the number of Californians aged 65 and older experiencing homelessness will triple by 2030. In response, the Daughters of Charity Foundation and St. Vincent Meals on Wheels established Hotel Dieu nearly 20 years ago to tackle the substandard living conditions encountered by some of our clients, offering safe, low-cost housing and essential services to low-income seniors.

With your generous support, we can help homebound and vulnerable seniors not just survive, but thrive, providing them with hot meals, human connection, and safeguarding them from the threat of homelessness. Together, we make a significant impact in our community, allowing these seniors to live with dignity and assurance.