News

Currently, one-third of the people served by Ozarks Food Harvest’s network of hunger-relief charities are 65 or older. Many of these seniors live on fixed incomes that limit their access to basic necessities like food.

Monthly checks from sources like Social Security help seniors get through the month, but that doesn’t guarantee they won’t face financial difficulties. Any unexpected or additional expense can have devastating impacts on their budget. On top of that, inflation and rising grocery prices place additional strain on their budget. This leaves thousands of seniors wondering if they’ll be able to consistently put food on the table.

Access to consistent nutritious meals is essential for older adults who may also face health and mobility challenges. With your help, The Food Bank is able to provide food, grants and technical assistance to local hunger-relief charities. Our partner charities include senior centers, churches and food pantries that serve groceries and hot meals to seniors experiencing food insecurity.

In 2022, Ozarks Food Harvest started the Senior Mobile Produce Pantry – a Mobile Food Pantry program that brings produce, protein and pantry staples to seniors in rural communities. Ozarks Food Harvest also provides boxes of USDA food through the Senior Food Program, which are packed by our generous volunteers.

“With the high price of groceries and us being retired now, this food helps make ends meet,” shared Roger, who visited an Ozarks Food Harvest Mobile Food Pantry. “Donors should support this because it fills in the gaps between where our budget is. But it’s also fresh, good food, which is something that people really need around here because there’s a lot of food deserts in this area.”

Thanks to your generosity, seniors like Roger have consistent access to the nutrition they need to support their health and thrive after years of hard work. Thank you for your ongoing support and compassion for seniors facing hunger in southwest Missouri.