UNF Meals on Wings program celebrates delivery of 100,000 meals to local seniors

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The University of North Florida is celebrating its delivery of more than 100,000 meals to homebound older adults through its Meals on Wings program, which helps address food insecurity among older adults and provides a solution to hunger issues in the community.

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Meghan Niemczyk, assistant director of the UNF Center for Nutrition and Food Security, will be recognized as a 2022 TIAA Bank Community Champion for her work with Meals on Wings during the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans game at TIAA Bank Field on Saturday, Jan. 7.

Developed by the UNF Center for Nutrition and Food Security, the Meals on Wings program recovers extra food from area hospitals that would normally be wasted and repackages it into healthful meals. The meals are then delivered to older adults on the waitlist for the program. Meals on Wings uses student and staff volunteers to recover food, prepare the meals and deliver food to homebound older adults in Northeast Florida.

Nearly 1 in 12 seniors face food insecurity with malnutrition in the elderly costing over $51.3 billion in U.S. healthcare costs each year. The Meals on Wings program is one attempted solution to this national problem by helping seniors receive food assistance.

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UNF’s Center for Nutrition and Food Security serves as a gateway to UNF for non-profit agencies, government programs, professional organizations and industry personnel to explore solutions to food insecurity and malnutrition.

“It’s incredible to see what Meals on Wings has accomplished in its delivery of more than 100,000 meals in just a few years,” said Dr. Curt Lox, UNF Brooks College of Health dean. “This program has a direct positive impact on the health of older adults and gives our students an invaluable opportunity to provide meaningful service to the community.”

CLICK HERE to learn more about UNF’s Center for Nutrition and Food Security.

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