Food Drive Celebrates Older Americans’ Month

One in nine seniors nationwide is “food insecure” – lacking reliable access to sufficient, affordable and nutritious food, according to a 2014 USDA report. To help address the need and celebrate Older Americans Month in May, Metropolitan Family Services DuPage is hosting a food drive, taking place May 1 – 31, 2016.

Members of the public are asked to donate canned and other non-perishable foods, especially those that are reduced sodium or sugar-free. Donations can be dropped off at the Metropolitan DuPage Center, located at 222 E. Willow Ave. in Wheaton, Ill., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.

“You would be surprised at the number of seniors locally who depend on food pantries weekly to make ends meet,” says Angela Bensten, who oversees Metropolitan DuPage’s programs for seniors, including its Senior Counseling Services as well as In-Home Senior Respite and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren programs. “We’re looking forward to helping some of our most vulnerable residents during a month that’s dedicated to raising awareness about senior issues.”

Metropolitan will be providing all donations to the Food Pantry of the People’s Resource Center, based in Wheaton, which distributed 2.6 million pounds of food to DuPage families in 2014.

For more information or questions, contact Angela Bentsen at bentsena@metrofamily.org.

About Metropolitan Family Services DuPage Center
Metropolitan Family Services DuPage, started more than 80 years ago, is a family service/mental health agency serving some of DuPage County’s most vulnerable children and families. Whether through early childhood education, parent education, family therapy, psychiatric and mental health services for all ages, or services for older adults and their caregivers, Metropolitan “Mpowers” individuals and families to learn, to earn, to heal and to thrive.