In Pittsburgh, the South Hills Salvation Army staff works diligently to make people feel welcome during their weekly food pantry. Theresa, 85 years old, was among those enjoying the festive atmosphere as she caught up with friends and sipped on refreshments. She was particularly excited to get a block of yellow cheese, which she planned to use in her macaroni dish. This cheese comes as part of the Senior Food Box Program, which is jointly funded by the state and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Providing Essential Food Supplies

The Senior Food Box Program offers low-income older adults a monthly supply of essential foods including pasta, juice, cereals, and a variety of canned foods. To qualify, a person must be at least 60 years old and have an annual income of no more than 130% of the federal poverty level, which is less than $20,000 for an individual. Pennsylvania's Department of Agriculture reported that 18 food banks distribute these boxes to nearly 40,000 people each month, although around 343,000 Pennsylvanians actually qualify for the program. This number is expected to increase to 645,000 when the income limit is raised by about $3,000 next spring.Colleen Young, the Pittsburgh food bank's director of government affairs, expressed excitement about the upcoming increase. She explained that these boxes are crucial for older people who may be using other government programs but still struggle to access nutritious food. A healthy diet is especially important for managing chronic medical conditions like diabetes or hypertension, which are more common among those 65 and older.Theresa started shopping at the food pantry in 2023 and signed up for a senior box. At that time, she was having a hard time affording the protein drinks prescribed by her dietitian at the dialysis clinic. She was mostly eating hot dogs and ground meat as they were the only affordable options. But since she started getting the senior box, her diet has improved, and she now feels healthier and has more energy.According to the USDA, in 2023, about 18 million households nationwide faced food insecurity. This means they didn't have reliable access to sufficient quantities of nutritious food. As a result, people might skip meals, eat less than they need, or consume unhealthy foods that are cheaper but lack nutrients.

Overcoming Barriers to Balanced Meals

For older adults, barriers to balanced meals can include physical limitations that make cooking or going to the grocery store difficult. The AARP Pennsylvania stated that these challenges are made worse by rising food costs and many retirees having fixed incomes. In addition to senior food boxes, other forms of public support like SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) address hunger. However, as Allegheny County's Area Agency on Aging explained, older adults can find the sign-up process confusing. Some may also be reluctant to seek assistance due to stigma or embarrassment.Back at the South Hills Salvation Army, Theresa collected her box and returned inside to a bustling room filled with caffeinated chatter. Volunteers and staff had set up a makeshift market stocked with food from the food bank and donations from restaurants and grocers. Theresa browsed through the impressive selection, gathering frozen vegetables, eggs, pre-made salad, a small vanilla cake, fresh produce, Italian sausage, and six fragrant cinnamon raisin bagels.

The Social Aspect of Food Pickup

The Pittsburgh food bank prefers that older adults collect their boxes in person at distribution sites like the Salvation Army. This provides an opportunity to connect low-income adults to other services such as SNAP or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps subsidize heating bills.Another benefit of a face-to-face pickup is the social aspect. The USDA reports that older adults who live alone are more likely to be food insecure, and a 2024 study found that food insecurity is "significantly associated" with isolation and loneliness. Isolation is also a risk factor for developing dementia, which affects nearly 1 in 10 Americans older than 65. A recent publication by Leung found that the same is true for food insecurity: The likelihood of dementia doubles among older adults who lack adequate nutrition.Other studies have also shown a correlation between food insecurity and cognitive decline. Although this research doesn't prove that poor nutrition causes dementia, there is a clear association even after considering factors like educational attainment and income.Theresa felt a connection when the Salvation Army staff surprised her with about two dozen of the pricey protein drinks. Her voice faltered as she looked at the crate of white bottles. "It makes you want to cry."BEFORE YOU GO… If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.