By Sharon Salyer
Herald Writer
An additional 48,000 pounds of food is now available each month to low-income Everett-area residents — enough to feed 750 qualifying seniors, women and children with $50 worth of groceries.
Most the of the food is targeted for adults 60 and up, said April Sprague, who supervises the program at the Everett Food Bank, a program of Volunteers of America.
There’s enough food to provide 500 seniors with food packages that include canned vegetables and fruit, juices, instant and evaporated milk, pasta and cereal.
Children between the ages of 5 and 6, a niche not covered by other feeding programs, and low income mothers, who are breast-feeding or whose children are seven to 12 months old, also may qualify.
To be approved for the program, applicants must meet income guidelines and live in one of the following Everett zip codes: 98201, 98203, 98204, 98208 or 98012.
Everett is one of three cities in Washington helping test the new food program, said Kim McQuade, a program manager for the state’s General Administration department which oversees the surplus food program.
"The push is to get the word out there and let them know this is available," she said.
Like Everett, Aberdeen and Spokane have just started their programs. Walla Walla and Yakima are expected to join the feeding programs in October, she said.
The food is being provided by the federal Department of Agriculture. Nutritional information is provided with the monthly food allotments.
For the first year, the program is being limited to people living in Everett zip codes, but there are plans to expand it to other food area banks, said Virginia Sprague, program director of the Everett Food Bank.
The majority of the food in this program is allocated to seniors because "seniors have always been a population that has struggled over the years on fixed incomes," she said.
"They’re very much in need," she added. "You and I have experienced cost-of-living increases at the grocery store, the PUD and with prescriptions. They have too."
Although the elderly have been targeted as a population needing help with food and nutrition, it’s often difficult for them to ask for help Virginia Sprague said.
"They are very proud folks. They’ve lived many years, for some, through the Depression. It’s awkward for anyone to come to the food bank, but particularly seniors."
The results sometimes shock even those who deal with hunger issues daily.
"A good 5 to 10 percent will actually eat pet food," said Karen Taylor, program assistant for Meals on Wheels, which delivers food to the homes of the elderly.
"A lot of them consider anybody who needs help a charity case," she said. "It’s the whole stigma with the welfare system. Their pride won’t allow them to ask for help."
You can call Herald Writer Sharon Salyer at 425-339-3486
or send e-mail to salyer@heraldnet.com.
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