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NUTRITIOUS FOOD ACCESS FOR ALL IN OUR COMMUNITY
With this Fall issue of IN Millcreek, we aim to share resources in our community for those facing food insecurities or seeking nutritious food access. We hope this information is helpful and will ensure people are able to utilize these important community resources.
Meal Delivery and Grocery Shopping Services
Contributed by Jennifer Hoffman, Executive Director, Meals on Wheels
Food insecurity, defined as the lack of consistent access to sufficient and nutritious food, is a pressing issue across the United States. In Erie County, Pennsylvania, economic hardship, an aging population, and shifting family structures exacerbate this problem. Recent local assessments indicate that many seniors, chronically ill individuals, and low-income families struggle to secure the three daily meals they need to maintain health and well-being.
According to the Erie County Department of Health and area food banks, approximately one in six households in the county faces food insecurity and that rate is even higher among residents over age 60. Seniors encounter unique barriers: limited mobility, lack of transportation to grocery stores, fixed incomes, and, for some, social isolation that diminishes their ability to seek help or prepare meals. Alarmingly, the Food Environment Index via U. S. News reports that 12.5 % of Erie County residents are food insecure- higher than Pennsylvania’ s state average- impacting approximately 35,000 individuals close to home.
These numbers reflect deeper socioeconomic challenges. Nearly 15.7 % of county households live in poverty, and about 18.8 % receive SNAP benefits. Grocery access is also uneven: 34 % of residents, and even more in rural areas, live more than a mile from a large grocery store. Rising food prices have further compounded the issue.
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