Advocacy opportunity: Meals on Wheels may be affected by the government shutdown

Kimberly Posey, our GAPNA President, posted a message on GAPNA Exchange.

Each day the shutdown continues, seniors face greater risks of hunger and isolation. Please take 2 minutes to urge your members of Congress to prioritize Meals on Wheels and the services seniors rely on.

 Write Congress today: https://lnkd.in/gcE8gfck

(This link will take you to a page to enter your name and address.  You will then see your representative.  A letter is already written to submit.  It will take about 2 minutes. 

However, you can also take the opportunity or not to personalize the message.  Here is what I said.

Meals on Wheels Is More Than a Meal — It’s a Lifeline

I’m writing to share a deeply personal story that illustrates why programs like Meals on Wheels must be protected from the consequences of a government shutdown.

My mother was a recipient of Meals on Wheels. The food sustained her, yes—but the real gift was the human connection. The drivers who delivered her meals didn’t just drop off a tray and leave. They greeted her, checked in on her, and became a vital part of her daily life.

Twice, those drivers noticed something was wrong when she didn’t answer the door. They contacted me immediately, and both times we discovered she had fallen and needed urgent medical attention. Without their vigilance, I might not have known until it was too late.

Meals on Wheels saved my mother’s life—not just through nutrition, but through compassion, presence, and care. These programs are not optional. They are essential.

Please, do not let a shutdown jeopardize the safety and dignity of our seniors. The cost of cutting these services is measured not in dollars, but in lives.

Then the "programmed message" followed.