All Faiths Food Bank Working to Assist Older Adults

September 3, 2024 | Sarasota

As many Americans approach retirement age, they may envision spending their “sunset years” traveling, spending time with family and enjoying a variety of leisure activities. However, as the U.S. population 65 and older soars and costs for necessities surge, many seniors are finding that their savings and Social Security aren’t enough to cover their expenses.

In Florida – which has one of the oldest populations in the country – the situation is exacerbated by some of the highest housing and home insurance costs in the nation. Seniors are being forced to make impossible choices: rent or car repairs? Utility bills or prescriptions? Medical care or sufficient healthy food?

Local food bank and hunger relief organization All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB) is seeing this heartbreaking dilemma from the “front lines,” as rising numbers of older adults are coming to food distributions for assistance. In fact, seniors account for 23% of the population the food bank has helped so far in 2024 – totaling nearly 12,000 this year alone.

“It is heartbreaking for us to see the need among our older community members, who are on fixed incomes and are finding it impossible to stretch available dollars,” said Nelle S. Miller, president and CEO of All Faiths Food Bank. “We hear stories of seniors who are reducing their portions or doing without meats and fresh produce, opting instead for cheaper, ultra-processed foods. And, as we know, eating these foods increases the risk of a host of chronic illnesses.”

Last year, AFFB conducted a senior hunger survey to assess food insecurity among seniors, and identify food needs and barriers to accessing onsite pantries in low-income senior residential housing facilities. To help address the crisis of hunger among older adults, the organization has expanded its services to senior-focused sites, such as senior residential sites, its own mobile pantries – with locations including DeSoto Village, Oak Haven/Lettuce Lake, Colonial Manor and Ridgewood Home Park – and partnerships with senior-serving agencies, including Meals on Wheels of Sarasota and North Port Meals on Wheels. The organization has also worked to increase awareness of the availability of nutritional assistance through direct postcard mailings listing pantry locations, door-to-door outreach, and yard signs at new senior-focused mobile pantry sites.

A recent study by Feeding America indicates that one in 11 seniors 60 and older – nearly 7 million – were food insecure. Florida was ranked as the sixth-highest state for senior hunger, coming in at a rate of 10%.

“As the population ages, and the cost of living continues to rise, we need to address the growing crisis of hunger among older adults in our community,” said Miller. “Numerous studies and news stories have reported on the need for many seniors to return to work to supplement their incomes, but the widespread awareness of – and informed action to address – hunger among this population still lags woefully behind.”

As costs of living continue to rise in the state, AFFB leaders are committed to finding new strategies to find and help older adults who are experiencing hunger.

To learn more about All Faiths or to find a schedule of food distributions, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941-379-6333.