Long Beach, California – With a shared commitment to keeping seniors healthy, SCAN Health Plan supports Long Beach Food Pantry Delivery (LBFPD). This free community service is dedicated to combating the growing levels of senior hunger and malnutrition in Long Beach by providing free weekly nutritious groceries home-delivered to seniors in need.
Help Me Help You (HMHY) launched LBFPD in late 2020 as a response to the increased demand for food pantries tripling in a COVID environment, and the growing necessity for a food pantry to safely deliver to senior residents who are unable to access their 10 food pantry locations. Today, LBFPD is an Evidence-Based Program proven to directly fight senior hunger by feeding more than 500 eligible seniors (60+) with free healthy groceries home-delivered. Those that qualify, select their preferred delivery time and dietary preferences from a variety of fresh and packaged grocery items in the Five Food Groups. Clients also receive weekly recipes; nutritional information; a needs analysis; and can access free benefit enrollment services for CalFresh, Medical, and General Relief, as well as links to housing services.
Sadly, the need for this vital service continues to increase each week since seniors make up the fastest-growing groups suffering from food insecurity in the USA. Furthermore, at least 14% of seniors live below the poverty line in Long Beach, California and this is expected to grow to 22% by 2025 (Community Health Bureau). This can put seniors at risk of health-related conditions like depression, asthma, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses.
Thankfully, HMHY received a gracious $5000 grant from SCAN Health Plan, one of the nation's largest nonprofit Medicare Advantage plans, to continue providing more Long Beach seniors in need with LBFPD life-changing and often lifesaving service. “Older adults often report missing or skipping meals due to factors that impact their ability to obtain or prepare food, including disability, lack of reliable transportation, and limited income. We are pleased to collaborate with Help Me Help You to make sure this vital nutrition program continues to serve seniors in need.”, said Eve Gelb, Senior Vice President of Duals at SCAN Health Plan.
Established in 2002, Help Me Help You is a 501(c)(3) community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those in need by increasing access to food, public benefits, economic security, and social security benefits. HMHY provides essential services to more than 53,000 individuals annually, focusing on seniors; children; single mothers; disabled individuals; veterans; and the homeless. These services work to reduce hunger and poverty, improve nutrition and health, boost family economic security, as well as motivate and transition residents from lives of poverty to self-sufficiency.
LBFPD relies on the generosity of donations and sponsors to continue to provide and grow the service. If you are interested in sponsoring this essential service, please contact us at info@helpmehelpu.org or donate at helpmehelpu.org/donate-now