Grocery shoppers are feeling the strain of record-high egg prices, and at the same time, more people are turning to our food pantries for support. Food insecurity is on the rise, affecting more individuals than ever, including a growing number of seniors. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA) one in 11 seniors (aged 60+) is food insecure, which means they lack consistent access to food. Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is working to combat food insecurity through multiple food assistance initiatives, including the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).
For the past year, Catholic Charities has partnered with Harvesters, The Community Food Network and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to offer CSFP to low-income individuals aged 60 and older who live in Wyandotte County. Last fiscal year, nearly $270,000 in commodities was distributed 3,538 times to seniors through this program.
CSFP provides a nutritious food box containing healthy, shelf-stable food items. Inside each box are ingredients from 10 different food groups, supplementing the nutrients often lacking in the diets of low-income individuals.
Each month, eligible participants arrive at the Giving Hope Resource Center in Kansas City, Kansas. They are greeted by Catholic Charities staff and volunteers. After check-in, volunteers load the program participants’ vehicles with a food box and a block of refrigerated cheese.
The excitement surrounding the produce boxes has been a beautiful thing to witness. Our incredible volunteers have become great friends to the seniors and each other. The distributions provide an opportunity to check in with the senior population, offer a warm, welcoming smile and catch up on their day.
“One of our distributions serves 140 seniors every month. There is a lot of isolation among seniors, and I know for some of our program participants, the CSFP distribution is one of their only outlets for community,” said Camille Pickhinke, Director of Community Engagement.
The CSFP is relatively new to being offered in Wyandotte County, thanks to a generous grant. However, the program has been operating for many years in our Lawrence, Leavenworth and Topeka service areas. Our Atchison Family Support Center has also begun CSFP distribution in partnership with Second Harvest Community Food Bank.
Learn more about CSFP and other Catholic Charities food assistance programs by watching the 51st Annual Snow Ball feature film.
