More than 10,000 senior citizens who are living on less than
$12,250 a year in Sonoma County may be going hungry, despite the
efforts of many local food agencies.
To mark National Hunger Awareness Day on June 6, local food
service agencies said they hoped Sonoma County residents would be
reminded of the malnutrition among thousands of local senior
citizens.
The Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB) provided senior citizens in
Sebastopol with nutritional information, while the Council on Aging
and the Healdsburg Shared Ministries Food Pantry said their
programs were a constant reminder of those in need.
³Education is important because the money isn¹t going where it
should,² said V.J. Lopez, a programs outreach specialist with the
REFB. ³I¹ve seen a lot of problems with nutrition and seniors.²
The REFB, with assistance from Safeway, provided clients with
the ingredients for a healthy breakfast and encouraged seniors to
be politically active at their monthly food bank at the Sebastopol
Grange.
³We want seniors out and involved and we want the voice of the
seniors to be heard,² said Lee Bickley, who coordinates community
relations of the REFB. ³It¹s an awareness campaign.²
Since the National Hunger Awareness Day began five years ago,
the REFB has chosen a different annual focus to bring attention to,
organizers said. Last year was a summer lunch while this year,
organizers said seniors and their nutrition needed the
spotlight.
³We feel it¹s a growing problem making sure seniors have enough
food and nutrition,² said REFB programs manager Gail Atkins.
³I think the seniors are the ones who are really falling through
the cracks,² said Susan Graf, co-chair of the Healdsburg Shared
Ministries Food Pantry.
In addition to tasting fresh blueberries and kiwis and receiving
an additional bag of nutritional breakfast supplies, seniors were
also asked to sign postcards which would be sent to U.S. Senator
Dianne Feinstein in support of the Commodity Supplemental Food
Program (CSFP) receiving continued federal support.
CSFP supplements the diets of pregnant and breastfeeding women,
children up to 5 years of age and people at least 60 years of age
with nutritious sustenance.
One client, identified as Mary, said people rely on these
programs to feed them and keep them healthy.
³People are unhealthy because they cannot afford the nutrition,²
she said.
Many seniors at the food bank were worried the program would not
receive adequate attention in the federal budget and they would
lose the 40-pound food assortment. Organizers, however, said they
would continue to provide services to the best of their
abilities.
³Everything has a limit to it,² Atkins said. ³We try to find as
many avenues as possible.²
Two other local food pantries said that although they did not
create a specific program to mark National Hunger Awareness Day,
every day was a reminder of the community¹s need.
³It¹s a constant challenge to provide sufficient nutrition to
our seniors and to raise awareness for hunger and nutrition,² said
Shirlee Zane, CEO of the Sonoma County Council on Aging.
The Council on Aging, which provides the Windsor Senior Meals
Program, collaborates with the Redwood Empire Food Bank, but
functions as a separate organization. At their 11 dining sites
across Sonoma County, they feed more than 1,000 seniors.
Zane said that two main reasons for the increasing problem with
malnutrition among seniors are lack of mobility and the struggle to
maintain the higher costs of living.
³The thing about food that people need to understand is basic
nutrition is the foundation for good health care,² she said.
In addition to printed nutritional information given with the
meals, Zane said there are many programs aimed at educating seniors
about nutrition, including one-on-one nutritional counseling.
³As our senior population grows, we have to start paying more
attention and putting more money into nutrition for seniors,² she
said. ³It¹s preventative healthcare.²
Susan Graf, who works for the Healdsburg Shared Ministries Food
Pantry, said the hunger problem among seniors could become worse
when they must fill out excessive amounts of forms to receive the
help they need.
³That¹s why, through the shared ministries, all you have to do
is live in Healdsburg or Geyserville and you can come two times per
month,² Graf said.
The Healdsburg food pantry, which feeds around 3,000 people per
month, also includes a senior brown bag program at the local senior
center, which was added a little more than a year ago to provide
groceries to senior citizens in need. Another program offered to
seniors, in partnership with a local cab company, is rides to the
food centers and doctor appointments.
Although she said she feels there are many programs offered
throughout the county, she said she worries about the senior
population.
Graf said that despite the multitude of programs offered to
every age group, there are many misconceptions towards those who
receive her aid.
³A lot of these people are working,² she said. ³Besides the
seniors, who are living on a fixed income, even those who are
employed are all still struggling.²
Graf, who also organizes fundraising for the Healdsburg Shared
Ministries Food Pantry, said the two biggest problems were finding
funding and able-bodied volunteers.
³This is grassroots what we¹re doing,² Graf said. ³We¹re helping
our nation and our community and everyone should help.²
To help fight the hunger problem among Sonoma County senior
citizens, contact your local pantry.
Healdsburg Ministries Food Pantry: 433-6777
Redwood Empire Food Bank: 523-7900
Council on Aging of Sonoma County: 525-0143
The Windsor Service Alliance: 838-6947
Sebastopol Inter-Church Food Pantry 823-2483
