EngAGE is excited to announce a new partnership with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to help better serve our Los Angeles Community senior living properties. Recently, LA Regional Food Bank was awarded a grant called the “Older Adult Expansion Program.” This 2019/20 pilot program will allow the Food Bank to provide food assistance through the implementation of a “kitted, shelf-stable drop” to EngAGE’s affiliated low income senior housing communities. That means that residents will be receiving five to six pounds of boxed, shelf-stable items for each older adult, once a month. See the full explanation of the program below.
Nancy Goodhart (EngAGE COO), Megan Hocking (EngAGE LA Food Coordinator and Burbank Senior Artists Colony Program Director), Sandra Vargas (EngAGE Regional Program Director), Jennifer Fallon (EngAGE Community Outreach Coordinator)
“The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank estimates that there are 77,000 older adults (aged 60 and above) experiencing food insecurity in Los Angeles County that are not currently being served by the Food Bank. As the population grows and lives longer, access to nutritious foods grows scarcer for older adults. In conjunction with economic obligations of rent and medications, older adults are forced to make decisions that negatively impact their health. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank recognizes this hunger gap, and therefore is dedicating additional funds and resources to significantly increase Food Bank capacity, agency capacity and food acquisition to feed an additional 40,000 unduplicated older adults in LA County. This new initiative is the Older Adult Expansion Program. The Older Adult Expansion Program aims to serve older adults who are veterans, homebound, or homeless. Through a community partnership model, the goal of the Older Adult Expansion Program is to specifically cater our resources to the clients you serve.”
EngAGE looks forward to working with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank as they implement this important new program.
