Gwangjin-gu Delivers Alternative Meals to Elderly at Risk of Food Insecurity Due to COVID-19

Temporary Suspension of Senior Cafeterias at Two Comprehensive Welfare Centers with Substitute Meals Delivered... Lunchbox and Side Dish Delivery Continues to Ensure No Elderly Go Hungry

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Seon-gap) is delivering substitute meals to elderly people at risk of missing meals due to the suspension of senior citizen cafeteria operations at social welfare centers to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The district had been providing free meals to a total of 215 low-income seniors aged 65 and over at two locations: Gwangjin Senior Welfare Center and Jayang Comprehensive Social Welfare Center.

After the suspension of the cafeteria operations, Gwangjin Senior Welfare Center distributes substitute meals every Monday, and Jayang Comprehensive Social Welfare Center distributes them every Monday and Thursday at the entrance after conducting temperature checks and hand sanitization, providing six days' worth of substitute meals.

The substitute meals include various menus such as ready-to-eat rice (Hetbahn), ox bone soup, dumplings, and pure rice cakes, which do not spoil easily.

Additionally, side dish deliveries, which were conducted at six locations including Junggok and Gwangjang Comprehensive Social Welfare Centers and the Happy L Corporation, continue to operate. The recipients are 367 seniors aged 65 and over with mobility difficulties, and staff or volunteers deliver side dishes twice a week while checking their health status and well-being.

Furthermore, the social enterprise Open Table delivers lunch boxes three times a week and substitute meals four times a week to 90 seniors aged 65 and over with mobility difficulties, managing to prevent welfare blind spots caused by COVID-19.

Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “As welfare facility operations have been temporarily suspended due to COVID-19, we prepared substitute meals to address concerns about elderly meal shortages and decided to continue delivery.” He added, “We will also carefully review whether there are any overlooked areas in welfare services due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.