but first, we begin with citymeals on wheels. since its founding in 1981, it's delivered more than 50 million meals. every year, citymeals provides a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals and companionship to more than 18,000 of new york city's homebound elderly folks. joining us in the studio from citymeals on wheels are vivienne o'neill, the director of volunteer programs, and louise kramer, nice to have you here. >> thank you for having us. >> tell us about the inception of citymeals first, back in 1981. what was the founding concept behind it? >> gael greene, a restaurant critic, read an article in the new york times about what -- wanted to know what the city was doing for homebound elderly on thanksgiving and realized that they weren't doing anything for that weekend. and so she rallied her friends and -- along with james beard, former restaurateur. and they raised $35,000 to feed 6,000 homebound seniors on christmas day. >> wow. and that was back in 1981. >> that's in 1981. >> and since then, it has grown to what it is to