August 21 is National Senior Citizens Day, a day that provides us with an opportunity to recognize and celebrate our elders. It’s also a time to reflect on the unique challenges many seniors face, including food insecurity.
According to the latest Map the Meal Gap study from Feeding America, nearly 131,500 seniors in Kentucky face food insecurity. This is approximately 12 percent of the senior population in the Commonwealth, which translates to roughly one in eight seniors. Within the 42 counties served by Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland (FAKH), the need is urgent.
“Rising grocery prices, limited income and health challenges can make it difficult for seniors to consistently access nutritious food,” said Rhonda Gonzalez, Director of Agency Services and Programs at FAKH. “Adressing this urgent need is a key component of our mission at Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland.”
One of the primary ways in which FAKH addresses food insecurity among seniors is through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). This federally-funded program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides a monthly food box to adults aged 60 and older whose income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty line.
Across our 42-county region, FAKH serves more than 8,200 seniors each month through CSFP. The CSFP boxes are designed with seniors’ health in mind, providing nutritious, shelf-stable food items. Seniors must qualify and enroll in the program, and each state is allotted a limited number of caseloads. Because demand is high, waitlists are common, and FAKH regularly advocates for more caseloads to ensure more Kentucky seniors have access to the program.
“These boxes help ensure that seniors don’t have to make impossible choices, like choosing between having a nutritious meal and keeping their lights on,” Gonzalez said.
During the summer months, seniors also benefit from Farm to Food Banks, a state program that allows us to provide fresh, local produce alongside the shelf-stable CSFP boxes. For many seniors, these fresh items are a rare and welcome addition.
We at FAKH know that the CSFP program is just one piece of the puzzle. That is why we regularly join food banks from across the state to advocate for seniors at the Kentucky State Capitol and in Washington D.C., showing legislators firsthand what senior hunger looks like in Kentucky communities.
On National Senior Citizens Day, and every day, you can play a huge role in the fight against senior hunger. Here’s how:
- Donate: Financial contributions to FAKH help expand programming and reach more neighbors.
- Volunteer: From packing CSFP boxes at our Volunteer Center to delivering food to homebound seniors, volunteers make our efforts possible.
- Advocate: Raise awareness about senior hunger in your community and support policies that increase access to food.
- Check in on your neighbors: Sometimes the simplest act, like checking in on an elderly neighbor, can make a world of difference.
“We can’t solve senior hunger alone,” Gonzalez said. “But when individuals from throughout our 42 counties come together, whether it’s through giving, volunteering or simply looking out for their neighbors, we can make sure more seniors in our communities have the dignity of a nutritious meal.”
To learn more about programming to fight food insecurity offered through FAKH, click here.
