‘PANTRY TO THE PEOPLE’
Food pantries try new concept to help feed seniors
Seniors benefit from food pantries’ new distribution concept
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Apartnership between the City of Albuquerque’s Senior Affairs Department and the nonprofit Silver Horizons is bringing a new concept to the food pantry experience. Instead of being handed a pre-made box of food containing unfamiliar items they may not use, the Senior Food Markets set up in senior centers around the city allow those aged 50 years and above to shop the aisles just like in a regular supermarket.
“If they don’t like peas, then they don’t get peas. If they’re not going to eat them, then we don’t want things to go to waste. So they’re able to come choose whatever they want,” said Anthony Romero, associate director of the Senior Affairs Department.
He said food insecurity is widespread in this state. A 2013 report by the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger said 46 percent of those aged 60 and over in New Mexico said they had to choose between buying food or paying for utilities.
Romero said they hold one or two events each month at different centers and at least 100 people attend each event. The dates are posted at the senior centers in advance of the events. Those who attend do not have to show proof of income. Romero said this type of approach allows seniors to obtain food they need in a comfortable and familiar environment.
“We’re operating off the philosophy of bringing the pantry to the people,” he said.
Seniors can also pick up supplies for their animal companions.
“A lot of seniors will either share their meal or forgo their meal to be able to feed their pet. Pets are their companions, so that’s important,” said Romero.
Volunteers from Silver Horizons transport the goods to each location and arrange them in displays according to categories such as snacks, vegetables, fruit, condiments or dinner items.
“We put a lot of thought into our offerings,” said Silver Horizons Executive Director Ron Hidalgo. “We think about the ingredients needed for an actual meal.”
Silver Horizons is a mostly volunteer-run organization that helps seniors with utility assistance, home modifications and food programs. Funding for the nonprofit comes from individual and corporate donations.
About 50 percent of the food at the senior center events comes from food drives at locations citywide. Senior Horizons gets the rest through partnerships with Roadrunner Food Bank and businesses like Sprouts, said Hidalgo. In this way, he estimates, they can provide food for one senior for two weeks for about $2.
The food markets also carry non-food items like dish towels and tissues.
“We try to have all the things that affect the grocery budget,” Hidalgo said.
Items available at the food markets include frozen meat and fish. The department has two freezers that are used to transport and keep the goods frozen. The insurance company CDIS of New Mexico purchased one freezer. The independent advisory council for one of the Department’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program purchased the other.
At a recent food market held in the Barelas Senior Center, people were lined up in the hallways waiting for the doors to open. Shoppers came with boxes, little wagons and small rolling shopping trolleys. At 3 p.m. volunteers began letting people enter in small groups to avoid a crush.
Luis Martinez, a senior who lives near the center, loaded his boxes with “all kinds of goodies”; beans, watermelon, cucumbers and cereal.
Senior Joe Mora who lives with a daughter, picked out boxes of crackers, Oreo cookies, a frozen chicken and a loaf of bread.
“This is a big help for me and my daughter,” said Mora.