April is Senior Hunger Awareness Month

This April, the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) is proud to observe Senior Hunger Awareness Month. In Georgia, senior hunger is a complex issue facing older Georgians.  

It is likely that an older adult you know is unsure of where their next meal will come from, as more than 191,000 of Georgia’s seniors are at risk. It could be your neighbor, coworker, the cashier at the grocery store, or the volunteer at the community center.  

DHS’s Division of Aging Services (DAS) is deeply committed to fighting senior hunger and is actively working to find a solution that will end senior hunger in our state. 

Georgia provides congregate and home-delivered meals through funding administered through DAS. There are 12 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) that work with local providers to deliver these food services to customers across Georgia’s 159 counties. To learn more about how seniors can access congregate and home-delivered meals, along with a host of other services, contact the Georgia Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-866-552-4464.  

Other resources for seniors facing food insecurity include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP provides monthly funds and nutrition education services to low-income families and individuals. In Georgia, the Senior SNAP program provides a simplified application process for seniors who meet an established list of criteria. Learn more about Senior SNAP here. 

Additionally, Georgia has a Senior Hunger and Nutrition Coordinator who works daily to raise awareness and seek solutions for Georgia’s seniors at risk of hunger. Learn more about that work here.  

There are many ways to help seniors in your community affected by hunger, follow these tips to get started:

• Read Georgia’s State Plan to Address Senior Hunger here.
• Explore and share the senior hunger toolkit and brochure with your network.
• Become a volunteer and learn how you can help address senior hunger in your community.
• Contact the ADRC to find services and resources for a senior you know in need of additional support.

Join us this April as we raise awareness, support our fellow Georgians, and take action to improve the lives of seniors facing hunger.

Related to: 

• Division of Aging Services