Thursday, March 22, 2012

TAKE ACTION: Seniors MUST apply for FREE food

DELAWARE COUNTY SENIORS MUST APPLY OR THE FOOD PROGRAM WILL MOVE ELSEWHERE

Vulnerable Seniors Have an Opportunity to Receive Monthly Food Aid
Philabundance needs seniors in Delaware County to apply for CSFP/senior food boxes to ensure food stays in the county
PHILADELPHIA –March 20, 2012 – Philabundance, the Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization, is looking for eligible seniors, especially in Delaware County, to inquire about the USDA funded Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), monthly food boxes that provide seniors with 30 pounds of shelf-stable food. 

A CSFP/senior box provides vital nutrition to the vulnerable senior population who are on fixed incomes and often struggling to get food staples. 

Philabundance needs eligible seniors to apply to ensure that the food stays in Delaware County.
There are more than 144,000 seniors at risk of hunger in the Delaware Valley that may qualify for the CSFP/senior boxes


Boxes contain canned and boxed food including vegetables, fruit, juice, pasta, milk, cereal, canned meat and a non-meat protein. Each box is also accompanied by fresh cheese. 





Philabundance is able to provide more than 9,100 CSFP/senior food boxes each month to eligible seniors throughout the Delaware Valley. Philabundance is looking for eligible seniors to apply to receive a CSFP/senior box.  
“Without food I can’t take my medication and without my medication, I don’t know where my health will stand. How am I supposed to choose between the two? 


Receiving my monthly box allows me to have both so I don’t have to make these types of decisions,” said a senior citizen who receives a CSFP/senior box from Philabundance who wishes to remain anonymous.
“Over the last year, Philabundance has seen a 26 percent increase in need and 16 percent of those we serve are senior citizens,” said Bill Clark, president and executive director of Philabundance. 

“Seniors on fixed incomes are one of our most vulnerable populations and CSFP/senior boxes are great resources to help them put food on their table and get the nutritious food they often need.”
Philabundance is reaching out through senior centers and residential buildings, food pantries, social service agencies and anyone serving the senior population to try to create greater awareness of the CSFP/senior box program among individuals 60 years-of-age or over in need of food assistance in the Delaware Valley. 


Pennsylvania has the second highest population of seniors in the U.S. after Florida. 



Eligibility
Philabundance is looking for eligible seniors in Delaware County to inquire about CSFP food boxes. To qualify for the program, participants must be 60 years or older and have an income that is at or below 130 percent of the poverty line (see income eligibility below). 


Interested seniors should call 1.800.319.Food (3663) to be directed to a CSFP/senior food box location near them.  


FAMILY SIZE / WEEKLY-MONTHLY-ANNUAL INCOME
1  /  $273 -1,180 -14,157
2  /   368 - 1,594 - 19,123
3  /   464 - 2,008 - 24,089
4  /   559 - 2,422 - 29,055
5  /   655 - 2,836 - 34,021
6  /   750 - 3,249 - 38,987
7  /   846 - 3,663 - 43,953
8  /   941 - 4,077 - 48,919
About CSFP

CSFP is a federally funded program, which works to improve the health of elderly people at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA commodity foods. 


It provides food and administrative funds to States to supplement the diets of these groups.  In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. 


To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 2025-9410 or call (866) 632-9992.  


Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities and wish to communicate with USDA may call the Federal Relay at (800) 977-8339 (TTY) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 



1 comment:

  1. There are several locations for distribution depending on where you live in the city.

    Your going to need Proof of income, proof of address, proof of date of birth and know the last 4 of your social security number.

    Wherever you sign up, that will be your distribution Center for food pick-up!

    ReplyDelete