It’s hard to imagine that people who have worked all of their lives could struggle with finding food in what we so wistfully call their “golden years”. But it’s a sad truth. A truth that Food Lifeline is determined to change.
That’s why, this year, the Mobile Food Pantry program is focusing on a growing vulnerable population, seniors. So our new location in Renton is definitely a cause for celebration.
Mobile Food Pantry is now serving low-income seniors living in two Renton Housing Authority locations every month. In its first visit, the program provided more than fifty seniors with large beautiful strawberries, cut melon, papayas as well as artichokes, eggplant, onions, lettuce, and several other fresh and nutritious items not readily available (or affordable) to these seniors.
According to Food Lifeline’s Director of Community Programs Dani Turk, the first visit was a huge success.
“The seniors were incredibly grateful and the Renton Housing Authority staff was overjoyed to provide their residents with this much needed resource.”
The Housing Authority staff says it didn’t take long for the good word to get around.
“I had my list of residents to make phone calls, but really didn’t have to do that. Any and every one that was coming in, or washing in the laundry room, I invited them to the boxes, and they told their neighbors.”
As the word continues to spread, we expect many more seniors to reach out. And when they do, Food Lifeline will be there.
“Over the past few years we have seen an increase in the number of seniors relying on food banks and meal programs,” says Turk. “Many seniors can quickly become trapped between fixed incomes and rising food prices. That’s why we knew we wanted to get more food to this vulnerable group”.
