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Today’s soaring food prices are deeply problematic for countless Venturans, but they’re particularly stressful for those on a fixed income. For many seniors, regular access to nutritious food can be challenging, but there is help available in the form of local and statewide programs designed to combat food insecurity.
Food Share Ventura County
Since 1978, Food Share has been feeding the hungry in Ventura County. According to Food Share, one in four people in Ventura County lives in a household that experiences food insecurity. Today, staff and volunteers distribute nearly 19 million pounds of food, providing 16 million meals annually to people in Ventura County through its hunger programs and 190 pantry and program partners. As Ventura County’s regional food bank, Food Share provides food for over 250,000 hungry friends and neighbors annually. Food Share is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief network of food banks, as well as the California Association of Food Banks.
Food Share’s Senior Food Box program works to improve the health of low-income seniors by providing monthly, nutritious, shelf-stable food packages to income-eligible seniors aged 60 and over. Currently, Food Share has close to 40 Senior Food Box distribution sites throughout Ventura County that cater to the needs of seniors living on a fixed income. Visit FoodShare.com to learn about eligibility requirements or contact Angela Aparicio at [email protected] or call 805-983-7100.
Ventura County Area Agency on Aging
The Senior Nutrition Program (SNP) from the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA) provides nutritious meals for older adults and people with disabilities within Ventura County, including Congregate and Home-Delivered Meal (HDM) services. These meal programs provide seniors with nutritious meals and contribute to maintaining their health, safety, dignity, and quality of life. Since the COVID-19 crisis began in March 2020, the VCAAA has served more than eight million meals to Ventura County’s older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers.
All SNP meals are approved by a Registered Dietitian to meet U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans and are geared toward the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) and Adequate Intake for vitamins and elements for older, frail adults. These meals provide a minimum of one-third of the DRI and accommodate diabetic and low-sodium diets.
The Senior Nutrition Program is not income-based. There’s a suggested donation of $3 per meal; however, no eligible individual (60 years and over) will be denied participation because of failure or inability to contribute. This valuable service is sustained with the help of contributions.
To find a local dining site or home-delivered meal program near you, visit vcaaa.org. For general information about Senior Nutrition, contact VCAAA at 805-477-7300 or email [email protected].
