KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Second Harvest Food Bank Of Central Florida tells us there’s an alarming increase in food insecurity among seniors in Central Florida
In this week’s Getting Results Award segment we visit a nonprofit in Kissimmee that’s meeting that growing need.
Every Monday morning a line begins to form outside Advance Senior Center on East Donegan Avenue.
Seniors ages 60 and up queued along the storefront windows, trying to find shade from the morning sun.
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Center President Wanda Rios waits at the door to welcome each client as they enter.
Rios, along with her husband Norberto Fonseca, started the nonprofit in 2016.
“It was a calling from God,” Rios said. “He spoke to us a while ago, and we just decided to make the move.”
Once inside, clients verify their appointment time and wait their turn to fill their bags and baskets with fresh fruits and vegetables, dry goods, and frozen meats.
Rios called it a “food choice” pantry. Each participant gets to pick what they want from the choices spread out on folding tables.
Advance Senior Center serves about 150 people each week.
Rios said that for some, this might be their main source of groceries.
“I think one of the main problems with seniors is they don’t have enough income,” Rios said, explaining that most rely on a fixed income that’s not keeping up with inflation. “They have to choose between paying the rent or paying for food.”
Numbers from the latest census seem to back that up; seniors ages 60 and older in zip code 34744 make up the largest group in poverty.
Erika Spence, storytelling and communications manager with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, said nonprofits like Advance Community Center play an increasingly important role for seniors facing food insecurity.
“For most seniors, their income is the same each month. It doesn’t matter if gas went up 25 cents. It doesn’t matter if rent goes up 10%. That income is the same. So they really have to make tough choices,” Spence said. “They’re not keeping pace with inflation and the cost of everything.”
But the outreach to seniors goes beyond the Monday food pantry.
“When we’re done today, the volunteers will clean everything up, take everything out, and we’ll place the tables and chairs and get ready for tomorrow,” Rios explained. “Tuesday through Friday, we have different workshops. We give them the coffee that they like. They have lunch in the afternoon. We have bingo and exercise classes.”
Volunteer Sylvia Navarro has been coming to the center for five years.
“Today, I’m the lady who gives out the meat,” Navarro said with a laugh as she leaned against a large freezer box.
Navarro volunteers on Mondays but uses the other services throughout the week. She said it’s a great way to stay active and keep up with friends.
“I’m giving back for what I get from coming here,” Navarro said. “I feel good when I serve so it’s good for me.”
To register for services and see a complete list of programs offered by Advance Senior Center visit their website here.
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