Monterey, CA Millions Of Seniors Facing The Choice Of Food Or Paying The Rent : Cuts To Meals On Wheels Could Be On The Way
by Richard Kuehn on 10/14/12
View From A Non-Profit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California I was happy to see more attention being called to an issue I have been writing about for some time on my blog (starving senior citizens), but sad to read the headline in USA Today, "9 million elderly at risk of empty pantries." Some face the choice between food and medicine, was the subtitle, a situation that unfortunately millions fact every day. The story profiled Judy Slover, who has severe arthritis and tries to make the six-block journey from her apartment once a week to a food pantry twice a week so she can get something nutritious to eat. But she can't always make it due to health problems. The short journey takes a half an hour or more each way, depending upon how much pain she is in. She also suffers from diabetes and, not surprisingly, depression. Those over 50 years old living at risk of going hungry every day have jumped 79% over the past decade, according to the AARP. Meals on Wheels helps many of them, delivering 241 million meals per year, but due to proposed budget cuts to the Older Americans Act, that figure could decline by more than 22 million per year according to a spokesperson with Meals on Wheels. This too is a common theme I have written about on my blog, state and federal budget cuts which hit those who can afford it the least, the elderly and the poor. We are trying our best to help as many seniors as we can that find themselves in a financial pickle. Please click on the donate button above if you can afford to. Your contribution will go a long way towards helping the elderly in need.
Please note that this blog reflects my personal opinion and may or may not reflect the opinion of HandsTo Help Seniors and the individual members comprising the Board of Governors.
