Senior hunger and nutrition are two topics that are concerns for anyone who has an independent senior citizen who they care for. Thankfully, there are organizations that care as much.
A group of charities, businesses and human service organizations in Northwest Michigan are launching a community-wide campaign this month to educate local seniors about healthy nutrition choices.
Comfort Keepers of Northern Michigan is spearheading the campaign to raise awareness for the unique nutritional needs today’s independent seniors face. Other partners include the
Grand Traverse Commission on Aging, the
Leelanau Commission on Aging, the
Manistee Council on Aging, the
Manna Food Project of Emmet County and the
Wexford Council on Aging.
"This community has been so generous to so many great causes," says Comfort Keepers’ Judi Maloney. "This time we’d really like to see folks visit a drop site and just share a can of fruit or pasta or rice. It will help local seniors in need eat, and eat healthy."
The centerpiece of the senior hunger and nutrition campaign is a regional food drive Sept. 16-30, when individuals can put healthy food on the plates of local seniors by donating food at more than 20 local drop sites. Each site will have prominent display signage with food donation suggestions, as well as drop boxes.
Senior Food Drive participating drop sites include: Traverse City: Comfort Keepers, Traverse City Chamber of Commerce, Oleson’s East and West locations, Traverse City Senior Center, Kmart (Acme); Suttons Bay: Hansen Food, Suttons Bay Library, Leelanau Commission on Aging (Lake Leelanau); Cadillac: Lakeview Lutheran Manor, Cadillac Senior Center, Green Acres; Manistee: Manistee Chamber of Commerce, Manistee Senior Center, Oleson’s, Manistee Ford, Green Acres; and Petoskey: Friendship Center, Fletch’s, Comfort Keepers and Oleson’s.
All donations will be distributed to local seniors by the partner organizations in each county.
For more information about the Senior Food Drive, please call Maloney at 231-929-9044.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Judi Maloney, Comfort Keepers
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