Highlighted Programs
Senior Brown Bag Program The Senior Brown Bag Program provides sup- plemental nutritious groceries twice a month to over 3,850 seniors at 16 distribution sites in Merced and Mariposa Counties. There is no cost to the individuals served and eligibility is determined by using the federal income guidelines for poverty. The Senior Brown Bag program is designed to help those whose main source of income is Social Security, and who normally have to choose between nutri- tious foods and crucial medications.
or below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines which is equal to $1,286 a month or less. Without the Senior Brown Bag Program, many seniors in Merced and Mariposa counties would be extremely isolated and at increased risk for malnourishment and illness. Senior Brown Bag Program participants are also provided with opportunities to volunteer at their food pickup site, which offers them social con- nections and a sense of belonging and purpose as they contribute to the Food Bank. Every month, more than 200 volunteers gather at the various Senior Brown Bag sites to sort, bag, and distribute food to their peers. Many participants have built new friendships and a sense of com- munity by volunteering. Unfortunately, countless seniors are forced to make difficult but unavoidable choices such as whether to purchase their medications, pay for their housing, and/or pay their utilities. Buying food, especially nutritious food, is often last on their list. Emergency Food Assistance Program The Emergency Food Assistance Program (also known as usda Commodities) is a federal program that provides monthly food packag- es to individuals and families who meet income guidelines set by the federal government. The Food Bank administers the program and distributes usda- provided food to nearly 38,000 individuals at more than 24 distribu- tion sites every month throughout Merced and Mariposa Counties.
Next to children, seniors are the most vulner- able group at risk of hunger. Senior food inse- curity has risen as a result of the inflationary factors. The number of seniors at risk of hunger in 2023 was 42% higher than in 2019. Pre-seniors between the ages of 55 and 64, are particularly vulnerable as they are not yet of retirement age and thus ineligible for safety net programs like Medicare and Social Security Currently, in Merced and Mariposa Counties there are over 27,500 seniors whose income is at
10 mcfb 2023–2024 annual report
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