Senior Grocery Program Faces Cuts

The September, distribution for Food Finders Food Bank’s Senior Grocery Program (SGP) will be the last unless new funding sources can be identified. Food Finders is currently working with a community partner to seek additional funding in Tippecanoe County. White County is funded for the year. Counties in danger of being cut are Howard, Jasper, Miami, Newton and Pulaski.

The SGP serves registered seniors struggling with food insecurity by providing a monthly distribution of food items such as; pasta, soup, canned meat, vegetables, fruit and snacks. The cost to run the program is $10 per senior each month. Unless funds come through to continue this program, the Senior Grocery Program will end.

Katy Bunder, president/CEO of Food Finders Food Bank, states, “We hate to cancel this program on such short notice. However, we were notified late last week that we did not receive a grant that we had hoped to use to sustain this program and are currently out of funding options.”

Food Finders encourages clients currently served on the program to contact the food bank at 765.471.0062 or help@food-finders.org for assistance with referrals to existing food resources, upcoming mobile pantry distributions, and help with registration for the Supplemental Food Assistance Program (SNAP). Piloted in 2013, this program is currently serving 500 seniors across seven counties.

For more information on how to support this program, contact Kier Crites Scherger at kcrites@food-finders.org or 765.471.0062 x219.