Providing Food to Older Adults During the COVID-19 Crisis - GetFood NYC - Emergency Food Home Delivery Program Guide

Sep 27, 2026

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Providing Food to Older Adults During the COVID-19 Crisis explains New York City’s emergency food response for residents facing hunger during COVID-19. It details how GetFood NYC works, including free grab-and-go meal locations, SNAP and cash assistance information, and eligibility enrollment for Emergency Food Home Delivery (EFD). The material specifies EFD eligibility criteria for COVID-vulnerable, food-insecure adults over 60, delivery scheduling and arrival timelines, meal contents, and options for Kosher or Halal requests. It also covers delivery safety protocols, customer feedback and complaint channels, and how DFTA Direct transitions into EFD.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

GetFood NYC

What is GetFood NYC?

How to access meals and benefits

Emergency Home Food Delivery Program (EFD)

What is EFD?

Who is it for?

How to sign up/enroll

Delivery timing and re-enrollment

What is in the deliveries

Food types (Kosher/Halal)

Safety and social distancing protocols

Customer Service

How to submit feedback or complaints

DFTA Centralized Meal Delivery and Emergency Food Home Delivery

Transition from DFTA Direct to GetFood/EFD

Home Delivered Meals program impact

Signing up if not previously enrolled

Providing Food to Older Adults During the COVID-19 Crisis Table of Contents • GetFoodNYC • Emergency Food Home Delivery Program • Customer Service • DFTA Centralized Meal Delivery and Emergency Food Home Delivery • The Emergency Food Home Delivery Authorized Enroller Program • Accessing the Authorized Enroller Dashboard • Using the Authorized Enroller Dashboard • Senior Center Enrollee Lists GetFood NYC New York City is taking steps to make sure no New Yorker goes hungry during this crisis. What is GetFood NYC? GetFood NYC is the City’s emergency food response to the COVID-19 Crisis. It spans work across City agencies and involves hundreds of staff distributing hundreds of thousands of meals each day. Any New Yorker can call 311 and say “Get Food,” or visit [nyc.gov/getfood](nyc.gov/getfood) for: ▪ A map of hundreds of locations for free grab and go pick up of meals at NYC school sites ▪ Information regarding how to apply for and use benefits such as SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) or cash assistance ▪ A portal to find out if you’re eligible for and enroll in the Emergency Food Home Delivery program, which serves New Yorkers who ▪ Cannot go out to get food ▪ Have no one to go out and get food for them ▪ Cannot afford private delivery services New Yorkers can also text ‘FOOD’ or ‘COMIDA’ to 877-877 to find the location of a nearby school with free grab and go meals available for anyone. Emergency Home Food Delivery Program (EFD) What is EFD? EFD is a food delivery program for New Yorkers who have no other option for getting food during the COVID-19 emergency. Who is it for? EFD is for New Yorkers who are both COVID-vulnerable and food-insecure—specifically lowincome New Yorkers over age 60 and those with other health risks. EFD can provide food deliveries for people who meet all of the following criteria: ▪ The client and all members of their household cannot go out to get food because they are at increased medical risk or homebound ▪ No neighbors or family members can pick up food for the client ▪ Clients do not receive enough meal assistance from other providers (e.g. , Meals on Wheels) ▪ Clients are unable to afford meal or grocery delivery How do New Yorkers sign up/enroll for deliveries? Any New Yorker can call 311 and say “Get Food,” or visit [nyc.gov/getfood](nyc.gov/getfood) to enroll in EFD if they are eligible (NOTE: eligibility is based on self-report; clients are not required to submit documentation) . How often do New Yorkers have to re-enroll for deliveries? Deliveries can be scheduled for up to 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, re-enrollment will need to occur. When do deliveries arrive? Orders will arrive within 72 hours of when they are placed online or with 311. What is in the deliveries? ▪ Deliveries include 3 days’ worth of food for up to two people per household. ▪ Deliveries may consist of pantry items, shelf stable meals, or in some cases fresh meals. What types of food can be ordered through EFD? ▪ New Yorkers can request to receive Kosher or Halal food if they choose; non-Kosher and non-Halal meals are also available. ▪ Efforts are underway to increase availability of food options in the future. What protocols are in place to ensure that meals are delivered using social distancing other safety best practices? All vendors and drivers that provide deliveries for the EFD program are instructed to observe social distancing and other safety measures when delivering food. Drivers are instructed to call the client upon arrival to their home and either meet the client or a member of their household on the curb, or place the food at the client’s door or in the lobby , depending upon the client’s abilities. Customer Service How do New Yorkers, including older adults, provide feedback on their meal delivery? Anyone can cancel delivery, change delivery, or submit a complaint about EFD by calling 311 and saying “GetFood” or subm

FAQs

What is GetFood NYC and who can use it?

GetFood NYC is New York City’s emergency food response to the COVID-19 crisis. Any New Yorker can call 311 and say “Get Food,” or visit nyc.gov/getfood to find locations and learn about enrollment for home delivery.

Who is eligible for the Emergency Food Home Delivery Program (EFD)?

EFD serves New Yorkers who are both COVID-vulnerable and food-insecure, including low-income adults over 60 and those with other health risks. Eligibility requires, among other conditions, that the household cannot go out, no one else can pick up food, and the person cannot access sufficient meal assistance or afford delivery.

How do deliveries work for EFD, and when will meals arrive?

Deliveries can be scheduled for up to 4 weeks, after which re-enrollment is needed. Orders arrive within 72 hours of being placed online or with 311, and deliveries include 3 days’ worth of food for up to two people per household.

Sep 27, 2026

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