Elena Tafone

Citymeals On Wheels • July 18, 2025

Cheryl & Margaret

From the moment Cheryl and Margaret met — at the Wegmans in Manhattan where they both work — they saw something they both recognized.  “We connected on so many levels,” Margaret says. “And one of the things was our passion for people and to volunteer.”

Citymeals On Wheels • July 18, 2025

Heather

“I’m a walker,” says Heather. “I can just walk around the city and that’s entertainment enough for me.” It’s one of the things Heather enjoys most about going out on meal deliveries.

Citymeals On Wheels • July 18, 2025

Tracee

Tracee and George may seem like polar opposites. George is 99 years old, an Italian American World War II veteran who has lived most of his life on Staten Island. Tracee is a freelance writer from the West Side of Chicago, now living in Brooklyn. "We're from two completely different worlds," she says.

Citymeals On Wheels • July 6, 2025

Billy

You can hear the music out in the hall — something loud with a beat you can dance to. Billy loves to have music playing, no matter what he’s doing.

Citymeals On Wheels • July 6, 2025

Julia

Most days, Julia’s world is limited to the square footage of her one-bedroom apartment on Manhattan’s far East Side. She uses her walker to get from the living room to the kitchen. For longer distances, she needs an electric wheelchair. “I go outside,” she says, “but what can you do in winter?”

Citymeals On Wheels • July 6, 2025

Joyce

“I was going to make coffee,” says Joyce. “I have it made. All I have to do is put milk in it. But my legs are so bad that I just can’t stand to get the milk.” Instead, Joyce will have to wait a while, until she finds the strength to get back to her feet. Hopefully, that will be before her coffee goes cold.

Citymeals On Wheels • July 6, 2025

Shin Ho

In the year since her husband passed, Shin Ho goes out less than she used to.

Citymeals On Wheels • July 6, 2025

Rubem

Rubem is lucky to be alive — that’s what all his doctors say. Eight years ago, he was enjoying a sunny day in Central Park. One minute, Rubem was sitting on a bench, reading a book. Then, everything went dark.

Citymeals On Wheels • July 6, 2025

Dorothy

Dorothy knows what it takes to feed people. “You name it, I can cook it,” she says proudly.

Citymeals On Wheels • July 6, 2025

Ileana

“I’m a runner,” says Ileana. “I used to go to the gym.” But it’s been a while since she’s hopped on a treadmill or gone for a jog around the block.

Citymeals On Wheels • July 6, 2025

Bryant

When asked how old he is, Bryant says, “Thirty-nine. But flip those numbers.” He chuckles. At 93 years old, it’s clear he still hasn’t lost his sense of humor.

Citymeals On Wheels • July 6, 2025

Carol

Carol was in her early twenties when she arrived in New York City, suitcase in hand. Now, at 93 years old, she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. “When you come from a small town, New York is a good place to learn life,” she says.

Citymeals On Wheels • July 6, 2025

Jewel

Jewel crochets, her fingers winding the yarn around the metal needles in slow, practiced motions. “I have to take my time because my hands be shaking sometimes,” she says.

Citymeals On Wheels • June 26, 2025

Bernito

When asked how he’s feeling, Bernito shrugs. “Not so good,” he says, “but not so bad.” That means today is a good day.

Citymeals On Wheels • June 13, 2025

Aging with Pride

Each June, Pride honors the historic struggle and progress of the gay community. Since the first New York City Pride parade in 1970, a year after the Stonewall Riots, Pride has become a worldwide celebration. But for the previous generation of LGBTQ people, being out and proud has not always been easy.

Citymeals On Wheels • May 28, 2025

Hunger in the Asian Community

The number of older Asian Americans living in poverty is on the rise, leading to more food insecurity.

Citymeals On Wheels • November 18, 2024

Resorts World Delivers

The volunteers gathered outside the meal center in Eastern Queens. It was easy to spot them with their bright red shirts, “Resorts World New York City” on the back. Soon they’d be delivering meals to older adults in need in the neighborhoods where they live and work.

Guideposts • January 18, 2022

Silver Medalist Amy Purdy's Spiritual Experience

This Paralympian had a near-death experience that gave her the strength and perseverance for snowboarding.

Guideposts • November 25, 2021

Everyday Greatness: Helping Immigrant Women Find Their Way

Jen Owens is the founder of Forai, a faith-based St. Louis, Missouri, nonprofit with a unique way of helping refugee and immigrant women find their footing.

Guideposts • November 24, 2021

How This Mysterious Visitor Changed a Farmer's Outlook on Life

Snowflakes were the last thing Tom Barry wanted to see. It was already late and he still had more than half a field of corn to harvest. Snow would slow him down more than anything...