--- title: Solving ‘the Last Mile’ so Hungry People Can Eat Will Be an Issue That Outlasts Coronavirus description: This is the “last mile” food problem that rarely gets talked about but must be solved, because millions of lives are at stake. image: https://www.logisticare.com/hubfs/COVID19-Solving%20the%20Last%20Mile%20so%20Hungry%20People%20Can%20Eat_04-23-2020.jpg --- [![modivcare-new-logo_transparent](https://www.logisticare.com/hs-fs/hubfs/modivcare-new-logo_transparent.png?width=157&height=30&name=modivcare-new-logo_transparent.png "modivcare-new-logo_transparent")](https://www.logisticare.com/) ![Banner Background Image](https://www.logisticare.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LogistiCare_January2019%20Theme/Images/Blog-Header.png?width=1720&height=140&name=Blog-Header.png) ## Blog #### 24 million members Strong As the nation’s largest manager of non-emergency medical transportation programs for state governments and managed care organizations, LogistiCare improves care coordination for more than 24 million eligible members and their corresponding providers and hospital networks. ## Solving ‘the Last Mile’ so Hungry People Can Eat Will Be an Issue That Outlasts Coronavirus Posted by Modivcare in NEMT industry, Medicaid on Apr 24, 2020 3:00:00 PM 0 Comments ![COVID19-Solving the Last Mile so Hungry People Can Eat_04-23-2020](https://www.logisticare.com/hs-fs/hubfs/COVID19-Solving%20the%20Last%20Mile%20so%20Hungry%20People%20Can%20Eat_04-23-2020.jpg?width=2400&name=COVID19-Solving%20the%20Last%20Mile%20so%20Hungry%20People%20Can%20Eat_04-23-2020.jpg) America’s most vulnerable populations — particularly the poor, the sick and the elderly — faced a [daily struggle](https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/snap-helps-millions-of-low-income-seniors) to get food even before COVID-19. Now their numbers and needs are surging due to the economic freeze even as the virus adds a whole series of logistical [challenges](https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2020/03/16/for-millions-of-low-income-seniors-coronavirus-is-a-food-security-issue/) around food supply that our society is ill-prepared to meet. This is the “last mile” food problem that rarely gets talked about but must be solved, because millions of lives are at stake. Food banks across the country are[ overwhelmed](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/business/economy/coronavirus-food-banks.html) by a level of demand they weren’t set up to deal with. The[ scenes](https://nypost.com/2020/04/10/10k-families-gathered-at-san-antonio-food-bank-distribution-event/) this month at a food bank in San Antonio that was swamped by an estimated 10,000 families brought home the scale of the crisis, though versions of that same scenario have played out across the country. At the same time, any crowding or personal interactions around getting food raise the risk of prolonging and worsening the pandemic. Supermarkets[ adding “senior hours”](https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/03/19/818488098/supermarkets-add-senior-hours-for-vulnerable-shoppers) to protect the elderly from crowds is a helpful move, but it doesn’t solve the larger problem — vulnerable people who can’t get to the grocery store without public transportation or help from neighbors. The federally funded Meals-on-Wheels service, a crucial source of food for around 2.5 million needy seniors, is in [dire need of volunteers](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/04/08/meals-wheels-volunteers-are-staying-home-covid-19-college-kids-are-filling-gap/) because the vast majority of those who usually transport the meals are over 65 and themselves at high risk from the virus. With the current systems under strain, there’s an urgent need to come up with creative ways to solve this “last-mile” food problem for needy populations while reducing the risks of contagion. Some initiatives have already sprung up at the state level, such as [California’s move](https://abc7news.com/gavin-newsom-coronavirus-california-covid-19-pandemic/6093023/) to partner with FEMA and restaurants to provide three meals a day to elderly residents. Such models show the potential and the need for public-private partnerships to fill the gaps on a greater scale.   [> READ FULL ARTICLE HERE](https://morningconsult.com/opinions/solving-the-last-mile-so-hungry-people-can-eat-will-be-an-issue-that-outlasts-coronavirus) [mailto:?subject=Solving%20‘the%20Last%20Mile’%20so%20Hungry%20People%20Can%20Eat%20Will%20Be%20an%20Issue%20That%20Outlasts%20Coronavirus&body=:%20https://www.logisticare.com/blog/solving-the-last-mile-so-hungry-people-can-eat-will-be-an-issue-that-outlasts-coronavirus](mailto:?subject=Solving%20‘the%20Last%20Mile’%20so%20Hungry%20People%20Can%20Eat%20Will%20Be%20an%20Issue%20That%20Outlasts%20Coronavirus&body=:%20https://www.logisticare.com/blog/solving-the-last-mile-so-hungry-people-can-eat-will-be-an-issue-that-outlasts-coronavirus) [ LogistiCare and Florida Blue Partner to Address Urgent COVID-19 Food Security Needs→](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/logisticare-and-florida-blue-partner-to-address-urgent-covid-19-food-security-needs) [←NEMT is an essential benefit to Medicaid members and must remain, help save it](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/nemt-is-an-essential-benefit-to-medicaid-members-and-must-remain-help-save-it) ### Recent Posts [![VIEW NOW](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4206606/d9d8c280-a709-46e1-a94f-1479c7743101.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4206606/d9d8c280-a709-46e1-a94f-1479c7743101) ### Archives - [October 2020 (1)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/archive/2020/10) - [September 2020 (5)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/archive/2020/09) - [August 2020 (1)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/archive/2020/08) - [July 2020 (4)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/archive/2020/07) - [June 2020 (5)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/archive/2020/06) - [May 2020 (4)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/archive/2020/05) - [April 2020 (4)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/archive/2020/04) - [March 2020 (5)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/archive/2020/03) - [February 2020 (1)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/archive/2020/02) - [January 2020 (2)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/archive/2020/01) [![View Infographic](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4206606/26a55119-7444-40c4-b7ae-3e08f9878df8.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4206606/26a55119-7444-40c4-b7ae-3e08f9878df8) ### Tags - [Blog (58)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/tag/blog) - [Care Coordination (45)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/tag/care-coordination) - [Keeping people healthy and safe (31)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/tag/keeping-people-healthy-and-safe) - [Care Coordination & Logistics (27)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/tag/care-coordination-logistics) - [NEMT industry (26)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/tag/nemt-industry) - [Access to Care (25)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/tag/access-to-care) - [Population Health (25)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/tag/population-health) - [Healthcare logistics (24)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/tag/healthcare-logistics) - [Managing Transportation (23)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/tag/managing-transportation) - [Medicaid Care Coordination (15)](https://www.logisticare.com/blog/tag/medicaid-care-coordination) [![REQUEST A DEMO](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4206606/82889a1e-4814-4645-866d-5bbfd5bf4906.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4206606/82889a1e-4814-4645-866d-5bbfd5bf4906) ### GET CONNECTED - [JOIN OUR MAILING LIST](https://www.logisticare.com/blog-newsletter-subscription) - [CONTACT US](https://www.logisticare.com/contact-us/) - - - ![modivcare-new-logo_transparent](https://www.logisticare.com/hs-fs/hubfs/modivcare-new-logo_transparent.png?width=157&height=30&name=modivcare-new-logo_transparent.png)   © 2023 ModivCare. 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