Each May, the Administration for Community Living leads the celebration of Older Americans Month (OAM). This year’s theme is Communities of Strength, recognizing the important role older adults play in fostering the connection and engagement that build strong, resilient communities. As the nation confronts new realities because of the global COVID-19 pandemic, seniors across the country, and in our state, are facing unprecedented health and food access challenges.
According to Feeding America’s State of Senior Hunger in America 2018 (using 2018 data and released in May, 2020), 5.3 million seniors (1 in every 14 seniors) are food insecure in our nation. In South Dakota, 1 in 7 adults (14,678 people) aged 60+ face hunger in our state every day. The State of Senior Hunger in America annual report series documents the prevalence of food insecurity among the senior population age 60 and older in the United States. It identifies the geographic variation in food insecurity among seniors, providing data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. (County-specific data is currently not available for this report. The 2021 annual report is expected be released in June.)
Food-insecure seniors are more likely to develop nutrition-related health problems, which is particularly problematic given the unique health, financial, and nutritional challenges that can come with aging. Even with the support of existing senior programs, more work must be done to address this public health concern.
Feeding South Dakota, with the help and dedication of its agency partners, has administered the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Supplemental Food Program since 2003, coordinating the distribution of thousands of boxes of nutritious food each month to adults aged 60+ living on limited incomes in eastern and central South Dakota. The food provided is to supplement what seniors can purchase on their own or receive from other food assistance programs. The food boxes contain nutritious, nonperishable food items such as cereal, juice, canned fruits, and vegetables as well as meats, grains, shelf stable milk and fresh cheese. Feeding South Dakota’s agency partners help to determine eligibility and registration of individuals that could benefit from this program.
“The idea that we have nearly 15,000 older adults going hungry every day in our state is incomprehensible,” says Matt Gassen, CEO, Feeding South Dakota. “Feeding South Dakota wants to do all it can to ensure those most vulnerable have access to this wonderful food resource provided by the USDA.”
Feeding South Dakota is requesting the community’s help to ensure adults aged 60+, who may be eligible, take part in this nutritious program. More information about the program and how to register can be found online at www.feedingsouthdakota.org/
This Institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Thank you to so many of you who responded to my initial request last week on the best methods for communicating the availability of the USDA’s Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), most commonly known as “The Senior Box Program.” Feeding South Dakota and its agency partners will do all it can to make sure this resource, which is so vitally needed, is reaching older adults in need of food assistance in eastern and central South Dakota. (Western South Dakota counties are served by Western South Dakota Community Action.) We are also working with the South Dakota Newspaper Association to place an ad in print and digital publications over the course of the next three months, so you may receive communications from them as well. We are still working to create a radio psa, more to come on that.
A photo of the contents of the box is attached for your use.
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