November 28, 2022 |by Rhonda Dempsey
Hello everyone – and welcome back to the Clinical Corner!
As we return from celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends, I want to recognize an issue facing communities everywhere as we head into the giving season – the issue of food insecurity.
Food insecurity in America isn’t a new problem. However, it has grown exponentially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Exasperated by loss of income, increased frequency of meals at home, and rising market costs, food insecurity continues to impact our communities both locally and worldwide. Fortunately, there are countless ways that we can give back to those in need.
- Food pantries. Available in local communities, food pantries are typically funded by charity organizations designed to help those less fortunate. Simply by searching “food pantries near me” on your phone or computer, you can quickly find the pantries closest to you that are in need of assistance. Visit https://www.foodpantries.org/ to learn more.
- Federally funded programs.
- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, utilizes stamps to help families cover the cost of food purchases. For more information, visit the eligibility page at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility.
- Meals on Wheels. As we age, our support systems can change. However, nobody should ever have to worry about where their next meal will come from – instead, they should know about the resources they have available. Geared towards seniors, Meals on Wheels is a nationwide organization that can provide you with all of your meals – or just one meal a day. The average cost of each meal is $7.39 – but those aged 60+ are only asked to pay what they can afford, pending application review.
- Each meal that is delivered to a home is based on a daily nutritional value that the individual should be receiving for that day. Nutritional values factor in gender and activity levels based on individual age. It’s also important to note specialized diets, such as Diabetic, so that the program is prepared to meet your individual needs.
- To fill out an application for you or your loved one, visit the Meals on Wheels FAQ at https://www.mowp.org/faq/.
Even if you aren’t in need of these services, there are always ways to contribute and volunteer to these incredible causes. Visit any of the links above to learn more about how you can help make a difference in your community today!
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
–Rhonda Dempsey
Chief Nursing Officer