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As adults over age 65 become one of the largest groups served by Ozarks Food Harvest’s hunger-relief network, we’ve made it a priority to ensure they have the food they need – the same way caretaker Bobbi prioritizes the well-being of her client, 87-year-old Charlotte.

When Bobbi heard about a free grocery distribution for seniors in Hartville, she didn’t hesitate to help Charlotte get there. She marked the distribution day on her calendar, readied the car and drove them both to get the food assistance they needed.

“Charlotte is marvelous,” said Bobbi. “She’s precious. There’s nothing in the world that I would not do for her.”

The grocery distribution was one of Ozarks Food Harvest’s Mobile Food Pantries – our direct-relief program designed to reach underserved communities and remove barriers to food. The Food Bank’s trucks drive to communities where food assistance is scarce or hard to access and distribute food to folks facing hunger in just a couple hours. This location was chosen specifically to reach seniors in rural Wright County.

In the six years that Bobbi has been Charlotte’s caretaker, they’ve formed a close friendship. Through that friendship, Bobbi has seen how Charlotte’s fixed retirement income makes it difficult to access all of her basic necessities. That’s why Bobbi was grateful to have food assistance so close to their homes. When Charlotte’s limited income doesn’t cover the cost of necessities, food from The Food Bank means they don’t have to worry whether Charlotte can afford groceries for the month.

The food ensures Charlotte will have nutritious meals to keep her healthy and independent as she ages, because access to food isn’t just for survival – it’s a sense of security and confidence.

Bobbi has seen in Charlotte, and even herself, how food can change a person’s demeanor. She explained, “It gives people confidence to know they have food in their home. If you don’t have food, people are just not happy. People get sick when they don’t have food. There’s nothing more fulfilling than a full belly.”

As you’ll read on page two, many older adults like Charlotte are living on fixed incomes that limit their access to groceries. Others may face challenges like mobility issues and health concerns. Whatever the circumstances, Ozarks Food Harvest is committed to helping seniors put nourishing meals on the table so they can thrive after their years of hard work.

“Ozarks Food Harvest gave us a bag of chicken drumsticks that made three full meals,” shared Bobbi, reflecting on the items they received from the Mobile Food Pantry. “We were able to stretch the food and get us by to the next month or however long it was until we were able to get food again.”

The meat, along with fresh produce, eggs and other pantry staples, helped Bobbi and Charlotte make well-rounded meals so they can continue enjoying their favorite activities: Talking and sharing wisdom, going yard-sale hunting, and even spending birthdays and holidays together. These stories wouldn’t be possible without the help of our community.

This February is Senior Hunger Awareness Month at Ozarks Food Harvest. We’ve made a lot of progress to keep older adults healthy in southwest Missouri, but many continue to face hunger. You can help provide meals for seniors by volunteering to pack Senior Boxes, helping us sort donated food, or making a monetary gift to The Food Bank. Learn more about how you can help Transform Hunger into Hope in the Ozarks at ozarksfoodharvest.org/how-to-help.