Embrace opportunities to fight senior hunger

May is Senior Hunger Month. There are thousands of food deficits for seniors in east-central Iowa. They are in our neighborhoods, they are the individuals we see and sit by at church, they are driven by their pride, and they are hungry.

Because seniors need medication to maintain health, many local elderly must forgo the foods they need to stay healthy. Food insecurity rates among this population are especially troublesome because elderly have unique nutritional needs, thus requiring special diets.

According to Hunger in America 2010, 30 percent of client households with seniors have had to choose between paying for food and paying for medical care. Food banks such as the HACAP Food Reservoir have partnered with agencies that are fighting hunger, like Neighborhood Church Food Pantry, to get food to seniors in need. We have found that the cost of food has been replaced by the cost of prescriptions, health aids and gasoline needed to transport to and from doctor appointments. The ability to buy food has diminished for this population and, being very proud, the senior community has difficulty admitting that it needs help. In 10 months, we have distributed more than 31,000 pounds of food. Our shut-in delivery is multiplying weekly.

My challenge to you, as a generous, spirit-driven community, is to embrace every opportunity to care for our seniors.

Dr. Jim Coyle

Senior Pastor

Neighborhood Church Food Pantry

Cedar Rapids