Seniors and SNAP: How the Food Bank Is Helping Local Seniors Get Enough to Eat

One thing we can all agree on is that everyone should have enough to eat. In pursuit of this vision, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank helps fill the gap between need and what government benefits provide. The most significant governmental hunger-relief program is SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly the Food Stamp program).

SNAP is the most effective anti-hunger campaign in the U.S., providing food assistance to low-income individuals and families. Seniors are underserved, however. Many low-income seniors who struggle to get by on low, fixed incomes and have unmet dietary needs do not participate in SNAP. For those who do, current benefit levels don’t counter inflation’s effects completely, but they do help put some food on the table.

Seniors are also more likely to have chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, which are worsened by malnutrition. These health issues often require expensive medical treatments and can increase healthcare costs for individuals, families, and society as a whole. Our communities are stronger when everyone thrives.

Helping Ms. B

By Monica Kelley, Benefits Outreach Manager

In April, I met with Ms. B, a Black senior who lives alone in Section 8 housing. We met during the Food Bank’s first senior food box distribution at a local apartment complex, where we played bingo and got to know each other.

I offered to help Ms. B carry her food box to her apartment and asked if she had access to additional resources, such as SNAP. She was confused at first until I clarified that SNAP was formerly known as “food stamps.” Ms. B said that she used to receive food stamps before they were randomly stopped. She tried to figure out why, but no one would give her a reason, and she could never reach her caseworker from the Department of Social Services (DSS). After I helped carry her food box to her unit, we scheduled a time to meet and complete the application together. “I’m doing the talking, and you’re doing the writing, right?” she asked. “Yes, Ms. B,” I said. “I want this to be as easy as possible.”

The next Friday, I met Ms. B at her apartment’s leasing office. We settled in at a table in the quiet community room, and Ms. B immediately took out her documents. She was READY. She had proof of her income from Social Security ($650), proof that she had just been laid off from her part-time job ($12/hour) in February, and proof of her shelter expenses ($550 rent).

While I reviewed her documents, Ms. B described what she had been going through since they discontinued her benefits. We discussed how she didn’t have enough extra income to purchase food or other important everyday items. She told me that she has five grown children and can’t imagine having kids now because of how expensive everything is.

I asked Ms. B where she was from, and she told me about how she was born and raised in New Orleans. She was forced to evacuate during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She spoke a lot about her family, life before the hurricane, and the many people she lost. She also talked about the racism she experienced in her life, which often became a barrier when working with her former caseworker to obtain SNAP benefits.

When we were finished, Ms. B said she was surprised that the application process was so smooth and easy. She repeated several times how thankful she was for the Food Bank’s help. Because most of her income goes toward shelter expenses, we were able to submit an expedited application.

I’m happy to report that Ms. B’s application was accepted and approved for SNAP benefits! We were delighted to help this sweet lady get the help she deserves.