Making Your Program Work

In communties where there are food banks, a strong relationship can be forged between the senior centers and the food bank. Each group should be referring their seniors for services in order to help seniors fulfill their food and nutrition needs. Some of the senior programs are currently members of the coalition , and knowing some of the savvy and experienced dirctors that I do, they are probably already working with the food banks in their communities.

All senior centers and senior programs should consider the food banks as a special opportuntiy to provide "outreach" (an NTS service under the Older Americans Act), which is that one-to-one contact with target group seniors whose health and nutrition are at risk and whose health and nutrition could be bolstered by additional services under the Older Americans Act. Target group seniors are those who are low income, minority, minority and low income, disabled, frail, suffer from dementia, or have other barriers that may interfere with their ability to get and take in food.

Senior center staff are required to provide "outreach" in their communities - to go out and find those target group seniors and inform them of the services and their eligibility if 60+ year of age. This is the intent of the Older Americans Act funds, and just a way to remind others of an "outreach" opportunity waiting in the wings.

— Stacy Goade, Alaska Commission on Aging

Our local Elder Nutrition Program does not operate from a Senior Center. However CRNA does operate the local Food Bank. As our Meals on Wheels driver makes his rounds picking up Seniors for the congregate meals and delivering the hot meals he also delivers the Food Bank.

We have started having the Food Bank available for the Seniors to pick up at our local monthly Senior Advisory Board meeting as well.

— Maggie Simeon, Copper River Native Assn.