By Anna Potts, Stevensville
I read your recently published article entitled “Trump Administration extends Free Meals for Kids through the entire school year,” and while I am pleased to see continued nutrition support for children in the Stevensville area and beyond, the article left me unsatisfied (Editor, 2020). As nearly a quarter of the Ravalli county population includes adults over the age of 65 (esri, 2020), I am left wondering how the older population struggling with food insecurity will be assisted through this difficult time.
Prior to the pandemic, the Trump administration had plans to cut SNAP spending by about 30% (Rosenbaum, D., & Neuberger, Z., 2020), impacting thousands of elderly clients who do not work. With Coronavirus isolating those in our community who are at high risk due to age, I am concerned about their quality of nutrition. While the Department for Health and Human Services in Montana discusses a range of options for fighting elderly food insecurity (Senior, n.d.), I am certain these programs have not functioned at full capacity because of the new COVID-19 restrictions. For example, the Stevensville Senior Center offers only pick-up meals due to the risk of COVID-19. The food can be picked up if ordered in advance within a specific time period, and is only available for pick up during a narrow time slot. If one prefers to isolate or physically cannot leave his or her home, he or she must contact the larger organization at another number to seek meal delivery (Stevensville, n.d.). The extra step of ordering ahead, particular time constraints, and transportation challenges set up barriers for those utilizing the senior center’s services.
In another illustration, 89% of the Meals on Wheels program sites are dealing with an increased need for food with little increase in funding (Meals on Wheels, n.d.). Although many of the Meals on Wheels locations have received federal support, the group is concerned about their ability to sustain the expanding demand for meals with costs rising as a result of PPE purchases and food costs. Because of the growing need in the aging population for food assistance programs like Meals on Wheels, the organization is lobbying for $1.1 billion in funding in the next COVID-19 relief package (Meals on Wheels, 2020).
In summary, while I am gladdened by the additional funding child nutrition programs are receiving, we cannot neglect the demands of the older population. Bills such as the Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act will provide the funding needed to conquer the nutrition challenges of this vulnerable population if passed (Senate, n.d.), but until that time, we need to be proactive. Those in the community need to look out for their older friends, as well as check in on their elderly neighbors and make sure they have all they need. Donations of time and money also go a long way in boosting the capacity of our nutrition resources. Both the Stevensville food bank and Meal on Wheels accept online donations at http://pantrypartnersfoodbank.org and https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.