Loi helps Meals on Wheels Celebrate 30th B-Day

By Allen Houston

Restaurant Loi and some Upper West Side volunteers honored the 30th anniversary of Citymeals-on-Wheels by feeding 150 homebound elderly the day before Christmas.

Loi, located at 208 W. 70th St., is the new restaurant from Maria Loi, better known as the Martha Stewart of Greece. Food served in honor of Citymeals-on-Wheels’ birthday included roasted lemon chicken, Atlantic salmon and a selection of traditional Greek desserts.

Citymeals-on-Wheels is a nonprofit that delivers food to homebound elderly throughout New York City. Since its creation in 1981 it has served up 45 million meals.

Loi said that opening up her restaurant to Citymeals-on-Wheels was a continuation of the work she has done in her native Greece, where she is active with several nonprofits.

“I do the same thing back home. Events like this make me feel like part of the community, that we’re helping strengthen the Upper West Side and make it a better place to live,” Loi said.

Beth Shapiro, executive director of Citymeals-on-Wheels said, that if anything, the need for programs like hers has only grown greater since its inception.

“There is a growing population of older people that need to be cared for. Many of them have outlived their families and friends. Events like this remind them they are not alone,” Shapiro said. Citymeals-on-Wheels fed 1,600 elderly New Yorkers last year, a total of 1.8 million meals.

A line snaked around to the back of the restaurant for those who had showed up to take part in the lunch and help celebrate Citymeals-on-Wheels’ anniversary.

“The food is delicious,” said Ruth Baez, a board member of ARC XVI, Washington Heights Senior Center, who came down for the food and festivity. “It’s a wonderful thing that they are doing. It’s very compassionate.”

A group of volunteers from the community also showed up to help dole out food and take part in the event, including City Council Member Gail Brewer.

Former Community Board 7 chair and potential Upper West Side City Council Member Mel Wymore was on hand, dishing up food for the hungry elders who had traveled in from around the city.

“It’s a great thing when local businesses reach out to help the community. It’s what Upper West Siders are all about,” he said.

For information on how to volunteer or get involved, visit citymeals.org.