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METRO DETROIT — Focus: HOPE is looking for more than 3,000 new seniors to apply for its Food for Seniors program due to a growing food insecurity crisis among seniors in metro Detroit.
According to a recent report by AARP, roughly 131,881 Michigan residents age 60 and over have some form of food insecurity. The metro Detroit area is estimated to contain more than half of those struggling with food insecurity, an estimated 75,675 seniors.
Focus: HOPE’s Food for Seniors Program currently serves more than 42,000 seniors monthly in four counties and is hoping to increase those numbers in the coming weeks to address this issue.
“The interconnected struggles faced by food insecure seniors affect their overall quality of life,” Portia Roberson, the CEO of Focus: HOPE, said in a press release. “From high medical costs due to health conditions, fixed incomes, to a lack of transportation, these seniors have the short end of the stick when attempting to make ends meet. These unique challenges manifest into larger pools of misfortune. That is why Focus: HOPE is committed to being that resource for them to overcome adversity.”
While Focus: HOPE is based in Detroit, the agency serves all communities in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Washtenaw counties. Unlike many food programs that provide one-time meals, this program focuses on supplementing senior pantries with shelf stable items like milk, cereal, and canned goods that can be used throughout the month.
“Since our involvement with the Commodity Supplemental Food Program in 1971, we have worked diligently to expand the pilot senior program into a permanent nationwide effort with lasting impact. We are grateful to the USDA and are committed to continuing our legacy to serve our community,” Roberson wrote. “One crucial point is that seniors receiving meals through other programs are still eligible for these monthly pantry items.”
“For a lot of these seniors, it comes down to buying the medicine they need to survive or putting food on the table. For most, it is the former,” Frank Kubik, the director of food programs at Focus: HOPE, said in a press release. “Our program is designed to alleviate the need to make those tough decisions by providing seniors with food and non-perishable food items that will last them through the month.”
Focus: HOPE’s Food for Seniors program also provides seniors with health screenings, income support, tax preparation, and utility assistance. Homebound food delivery is available.
Seniors age 60 and older living in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, or Washtenaw counties can apply for the monthly Food for Seniors Program by calling (313) 494-4600 or emailing food@focushope.edu.
