Connection in Every Bite!
By Katheryn Howell, ISR Senior Director of Community Programs
During March, we shine a light on our Senior Nutrition Programs: Meals on Wheels, Community Meals throughout the county, Liquid Nutritional Supplement, and summertime Farmer’s Market Debit Cards,
“Since 1972, the National Senior Nutrition Program has supported nutrition services for older adults across the country… Local programs serve as hubs where people 60+ find healthy meals and vital services that strengthen social connections and promote well-being. Every March, we celebrate our program’s anniversary and its many accomplishments at the national and local levels. We promote how nutrition services help people stay independent as they age, and highlight critical senior nutrition issues.
The 2024 theme, Connection in Every Bite, highlights one of the most important aspects of the Senior Nutrition Program: the profound relationship between food and social connection. When local nutrition programs serve and build their communities through meals and fellowship, they provide a powerful reminder that the act of coming together over a meal transcends sustenance — it fosters a sense of belonging, contributes to the health of participants, and creates an opportunity for connection in every bite.” (from the Administration for Community Living https://acl.gov)
In partnership with DSHS, Area Agency on Aging (AAA) nutrition programs provide hot meals at community sites, senior center food pantries, mobile food pantries, Meals on Wheels, and other nutrition services. AAA meal programs in every part of our state support dozens of community-based organizations (like Island Senior Resources), which have expanded in recent years to serve hot meals to 30% more seniors and people with disabilities. In 2023, Island Senior Resources served over 90,000 meals to those in need in Island County. For more information on ISR nutrition programs, visit https://senior-resources.org/nutrition-overview/.