[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 107 (Friday, July 25, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1527-E1528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNITION OF ELDERLY NUTRITION PROGRAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT A. WEYGAND

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 25, 1997

  Mr. WEYGAND. Mr. Speaker, elderly nutrition programs are crucial to 
the senior citizens in the State of Rhode Island and throughout our 
country. These programs, either at meal sites or through home delivery, 
serve many important roles. In addition to providing meal recipients 
with a balanced meal, these nutrition programs often offer seniors the 
chance to socialize with their peers and provides them with much-needed 
personal contact with caring and dedicated volunteers of all ages.
  Annually, in my State of Rhode Island, nearly 17,000 seniors receive 
healthy, balanced, and nutritious lunches at 1 of the 72 local meal 
sites spread throughout the State. Over 5,000 seniors also receive meal 
assistance from the home delivery program, operated in Rhode Island by 
Rhode Island Meals on Wheels.
  One woman, who lives in my district in Warwick, RI, recently shared 
with me her feelings on the importance of one of these elderly 
nutrition programs. Virginia, who will be 80 years old this month, 
receives a meal from Meals on Wheels and feels that it is one of the 
finest services around.
  She recently wrote to me saying:


       I depend on and must have well-balanced food. The lunches I 
     receive from the Meals on Wheels Program enable me to eat 
     nutritiously and have given me a way to recover from my 
     recent surgery.
       The volunteers who deliver the luncheons are so kind, 
     friendly and the hour I hear them in their van and my 
     doorbell rings, it

[[Page E1528]]

     makes my otherwise sedentary life brighten up!
       The food selections for the entire month are left at the 
     beginning of the month, so I can anticipate my favorites. The 
     noon hour is the highlight of my day, thanks to the friendly 
     and kind volunteers who deliver my lunch.


  She completes her letter by letting me know that she is concerned 
about the future of this program. She prays that she will never receive 
a notice that says, ``Sorry, there will be no Meals on Wheels until 
further notice.''
  On behalf of the people who depend upon the elderly nutrition 
programs, I commend my colleagues for recognizing the importance of 
elderly nutrition programs by approving additional funding for elderly 
nutrition programs during debate on the Agriculture Appropriations 
bill. Furthermore, I respectfully request the conference committee to 
maintain and strengthen this commitment to our Nation's seniors by 
making sure critical funding for these programs does not dry up.

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