Erie County Times

The Department of Agriculture has made it a priority to help seniors when it comes to food assistance.

Gov. Tom Wolf recently applauded the Senior Food Box Program, which feeds 20% more seniors compared to last year since efforts to increase awareness have been implemented.

“Fighting hunger has been a top priority for Frances and me from day one,” Wolf said in a press release from his office. “I’m incredibly proud of the work that the departments of Agriculture and Aging have done to revitalize this program that ensures our older Pennsylvanians don’t have to choose between paying for utilities or putting food on the table.”

The Senior Food Box Program was formerly called the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. Last year the program was nearly cut significantly as more than 300,000 people were eligible but only 28,000 were using it. Since May 2021 the Department of Agriculture has worked to increase awareness of the program.

“One hungry older Pennsylvanian is one too many,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said in the release. “Through valued partnerships, we’re working towards an ultimate goal of eliminating hunger. And I’m proud to say, we’re making progress for our seniors. The Senior Food Box Program is now more accessible thanks to a rebranding and new partnerships. I hope that with easier access to reliable food on the table, we’re taking stress off the table.”

To foster program access, the Department of Agriculture has removed verification requirements; hosted a listening session with First Lady Frances Wolf for recommendations of improvements from people who are in the program; partnered with DoorDash (which is available in the following counties: Bucks, Columbia, Dauphin, Erie, Fayette, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Montgomery, Montour, Philadelphia, Washington, Westmoreland and York); and partnered with the Department of Aging and the PACE Prescription Assistance Program. 

The PACE program has processed more than 20,000 applications in total.

“Access to nutritional foods for older adults is critical to help support their health, well-being and independence,” Secretary of Aging Robert Torres said in the release. “The Department of Aging’s partnership with the Department of Agriculture is utilizing the PACE Program’s call center operation and a facilitated application process that make it easy for seniors who are enrolled in PACE to take advantage of other programs for which they may also be eligible, like the Senior Food Box. People call PACE because they know they get to talk with someone who cares and who will help them. By working together with our state and community partners, we are helping more older adults overcome challenges with food insecurity and healthy eating.”