Helping Local Seniors Who Face Food Insecurity
Imagine standing in the supermarket and trying to make a decision: do you buy groceries for the week, or pay for a prescription medication? It's an impossible choice—whichever option you choose, your health and well-being will suffer.
And yet, millions of seniors are faced with this choice on a regular basis. 63% of seniors who visit food programs reported not being able to afford both food and medical care. In 2019, a total of 5.2 million seniors (or 7.1% of the 60+ population) dealt with hunger, and some estimates predict that number will increase in the coming years.
Spectrum Community Services is helping to ease that burden for local seniors facing food insecurity and isolation. In Castro Valley, Spectrum has two Senior Meal distribution sites, one at Kenneth C. Aitken Senior & Community Center (five days per week) and the other at United Methodist Church (Tuesdays & Thursdays). Spectrum requests a small donation for each meal but no eligible senior aged 60+ will be turned away for lack of funds.
Monthly menus have been developed with the help of a registered dietician to meet federal guidelines for nutritional standards, are low in sodium, and contain at least 1/3 of seniors’ Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) including fruits and vegetables high in Vitamins C and A. Spectrum is excited to announce their new NEW Spring/Summer 8-week Cycle Menu beginning in May that will introduce several new entree recipes, while keeping clients’ favorites.
During shelter-in-place orders local senior centers and churches closed, forcing Spectrum to shift to a “pick-up and go model”; proudly, not a day of meal service was missed for those most vulnerable. Served in reusable containers that clients exchange on their next visit, Spectrum’s Senior Meals divert thousands of single-use food containers from Alameda County’s waste stream each month.
But, it’s more than just a meal. Many seniors face social isolation, loneliness and depression, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Picking up a Spectrum Senior Meal is often the reason that clients get up, get dressed, and go out for the day. Seniors were still able to see each other and have socially distanced conversations, allowing them to feel connected during these unprecedented times which left many of us feeling unconnected.
The cost to prepare each senior meal is over $13. For each meal a $3.75 contribution is suggested, but the average client donation is under $1. Spectrum relies heavily on generous donations from individuals and organizations to close that funding gap so no seniors are placed on a waitlist. For more information about Spectrum Senior Meals and to register, visit www.SpectrumCS.org or call 510-881-0300 ext 232.
Spectrum Community Services is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the health and safety of seniors and low income residents in Alameda County by enhancing their quality of life and helping them age at home with dignity. Senior nutrition programs provide home-delivered meals in Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore and Sunol, and congregate meals in Hayward, Castro Valley, San Leandro, Alameda, Oakland, and Union City. The Fall Prevention Program (FPP) seeks to reduce injuries among at-risk low-income seniors. Through the Energy Program, Spectrum Community Services administers the federally-funded weatherization and Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) programs.