“Getting old is hard,” said Mary, citing an old Italian saying. Many of us experience that feeling as more and more time passes in our lives. But for some of us, such as Mary, an elderly New Yorker who lives alone following the passing of her husband of 59 years more than a decade ago. It was the stories of people like her, aging and alone, isolated and poor, that have made Ira Riklis a long-time supporter of Citymeals On-Wheels, an organization that provides both meals and a lifeline for New York City’s homebound elderly.
For people like Mary, who find it hard or impossible, to leave their homes, it’s not only the meals—more than 2.2 million in a recent year—that make a difference. It’s also the connection with the organization’s dedicated and caring volunteers who deliver the meals. Through Citymeals “Friendly Visitors” program, a volunteer, Pete, visits Mary several times a week, helping her with errands and providing much-needed companionship. Ira Riklis and his family have been provided significant funding that has earned them the rank as some of the group’s “Very Grand Patrons.” But rather than feeling “very grand,” they feel grateful that they’re able to help. You can help too, through donations of money or time. Even if you don’t live in New York, you can likely find similar programs operating near you.