Serving the Hungry - Winter 2017 Newsletter
The State of Senior Hunger in America
Food insecurity is defined by
the United States Department of
Agriculture as having limited access to
enough nutritious food to live a healthy
lifestyle. In 2015, 8.1% of seniors age
60 and older in the U.S., or 5.4 million
seniors overall, were food insecure.
This represents a slight drop since
2014, down from 8.8% and 5.7 million
seniors. However, the current rate of
food insecurity among seniors remains
substantially above the rate in 2007
(6.3%), and the current number of
seniors who are food insecure is still
more than double the number in 2001
(2.3 million).
The report, The State of Senior
Hunger in America in 2015, provides
an overview of the extent and
distribution of food insecurity in 2015
among seniors in the United States,
along with trends over the past decade
using national and state-level data,
quantifying the senior population facing
the threat of hunger (i.e. marginally
food insecure). Additional information
provided in a supplement to this report
also presents evidence on seniors at
risk of hunger (i.e. food nsecure) and
on seniors facing hunger (i.e. very low
food secure).
The State of Senior Hunger in
America 2015 demonstrates that
seniors in 2015 continued to face
pressing challenges meeting food
need. Specifically, the report finds that:
- One quarter (25.1%) of seniors with a
disability are food insecure.
- Seniors who live with grandchildren are more likely to be food insecure
than seniors who do not.
- Continuing with historic trends documented,
this report finds that the threat of hunger is
greatest among those living in states in the
South and Southwest, those who are racial
or ethnic minorities, those with lower incomes,
and those who are younger (ages 60-69).
- Indiana ranks 6th highest in the country
for food-insecure seniors (11.7% vs. 8.1%
national average)
- The majority (65.8%) of seniors who are
food insecure have incomes above the
federal poverty line ($11,770 for a household
of one in 2015).
Despite an improving economy and financial
markets, millions of seniors in the United States
are going without enough food due to economic
constraints. Based on the findings regarding food
insecurity and health in Gundersen and Ziliak
(2017), this stubbornly high proportion of food
insecure seniors continues to impose a major health
care challenge in the U.S. In fact, food insecurity
among seniors age 60 years and older is associated
with 11 adverse health conditions. And, it is most
strongly associated with depression – food-insecure
seniors are 78% more likely to experience depression
than food-secure seniors.
A Word from the Agency Director
Dear Friends,
One of the more consistent
messages that you will hear during
an election cycle is the question of
how we are leaving our economy
for our children. Will they be better
off than we have been in our
professional careers? But, what
about the future of those who have
gone before us? What opportunities
or challenges do they face after
paving the way for our progress?
We live in a nation
that has a food
insecurity rate for
seniors of over
8%, that translates
to 1 in 12 or the
equivalent of 5.4
million people!
These numbers were gathered for
calendar year 2015, which is the
most current data available. For
our society, this senior segment
represents those who came before
us, provided for us and helped to
shape us into what we are today.
Indiana ranks in the top ten among
states for the percentage of senior
citizens that are food insecure. For
seniors, food insecurity can be even
more challenging as we consider the
strong link between food insecurity
and overall health. Thankfully, we
have seen more programs initiated
locally in the last two years with a
focus on providing food assistance
to our senior population. These
programs get nutritious food to
people who don’t have the ability to
get food without assistance.
Inside this edition of Serving the
Hungry you will read about the state
of senior hunger in our country and
learn more about the programs we
support in an effort to reduce this
rate. We hope that this information
will allow you to be more informed
and helpful when you encounter
someone in need.
There really is no reason someone
in our country – or for that matter in
our great state of Indiana – to ever
go without a meal when we have so
much food readily available.
Please join us because together we
can solve hunger,
John C. Etling
Agency Director
Fishes and Loaves
Each weekday, the Fishes and Loaves Soup
Kitchen is open for lunch in the dining room at Ryves
Youth Center. An average of 80 people come to get a
warm meal, sit at tables in the dining room and often
stay around to talk with friends that they have made in
the neighborhood or at the lunch itself.
But Naomi Smith, Food Service Coordinator, notices
something particular when she serves her customers.
Many are older. They often comment that lunch is the
highlight of their day. They like what they consider “home cooked” meals; home-style like mashed potatoes
and gravy or turkey and stuffing. It reminds them of
home and being in a family. In addition to the meals, it is
these sentiments that are heartwarming.
Naomi has come to know her “family.” She knows that
many suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes due to
a lifetime of poor nutrition. Therefore, she pays attention
to the amount of salt and sugar in her meals. Though
the tea is sweet, it is not too sweet.
People first come to the Soup Kitchen for a nutritious
meal, but why do they keep coming back? It’s for more
than just a meal.
12 Points Brown Bag Senior Feeding Program
The 12 Points Brown Bag
Program serves senior citizens
who reside at Garfield Towers and
Warren Village on the north side of
Terre Haute. Jack Meany was the
driving force to create this program
and his motivation to encourage
others was the necessary call to
action that launched what is now
regarded as a vital service in this
part of the city. “This area was a food
desert created due to some closings
of local businesses and places of
worship, even a Catholic school. We
saw there was a need; we confirmed
this by conducting a survey in the
area. The best place for us to focus
our efforts was Garfield Towers and
ultimately Warren Village as well.” Jack went on to say, “We couldn’t
just sit idle and not do something. It
was made known to me and others
that seniors living in these housing
facilities were having a tough time
getting food. I know we have enough
food in our community so it was a
matter of getting the food and getting
it to them.”
Jack and others he has recruited
come to Terre Haute Catholic
Charities Foodbank for food and
other supplies. “Because we can
get items at the Foodbank we are
able to cut our cost to half of what
it used to be while still providing the
same meal – a sandwich, soup, fresh
produce and a pastry item. We find
great purpose in this program and
I think those we serve do as well.” With funding from local foundations,
community leaders, and friends, the
program is now serving more than
140 sack lunches each week. “We
always welcome support to keep this
program going; after all someday
I will retire, but the need will
continue.”
Jack Meany, Harry and Rosaline
Secrest and Karen Goehl have
focused their efforts on fundraising
and gathering nutritious foods to
meet the needs of these neighbors.
The volunteers and committee
members of the program are fighting
food insecurity one can of soup and
brown bag at a time.
Last June, the Brown Bag Lunch
committee members, volunteers,
staff, and Garfield Towers/Warren
Village residents celebrated the one-year
anniversary of the program
with a luncheon. Over 80 individuals
came to celebrate not just for the
food but for the relationships that
they had discovered during that time.
We are grateful there are people
like Jack, Harry, Rosaline and Karen
who see a need and are willing to do
something that makes a difference.
Need Help Finding Food?
If you need help finding food or know someone who does, call the National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479). The Hunger Hotline is available Monday – Friday from 9am – 6pm. All calls are free and confidential. Help someone you know receive the nutrition they need to remain healthy and productive.
