Seniors are among the most vulnerable to food insecurity. To help, The Food Bank provides Senior Boxes through a USDA program to eligible people 60 years old and over. The boxes are distributed monthly and give nutritional food needed to supplement a healthy diet.

For all people who experience food insecurity, including seniors, the struggle to afford to eat healthily has an impact on well-being. According to Feeding America, nearly half of all people using food banks report being in “fair” or “poor” health. More than half of them report having unpaid medical bills. Two-thirds say they have had to choose between buying food or paying for medical care or medicine, with 31% facing that choice monthly. Food insecurity is linked to higher rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and hypertension in adults. As a result, food insecurity is also associated with higher health care costs and increased hospitalization rates.

Providing nutritional food to seniors is vital to their health. The Food Bank distributes 2,880 Senior Boxes a month to help.