ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Seniors are the fastest-growing segment of the population with more than 12,000 people turning 60 every day.
As housing, healthcare, and food costs continue to rise, 13 million seniors are facing food insecurity.
Seniors First is best known best for the “Meals on Wheels” program, but its “Neighborhood Lunch” program is serving up social soul food for seniors.
“I feel that each time that I come here, I feel alive,” said Ivette Martinez, a senior at the program.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
“We meet new people and they make me feel at home,” said Tracy Cresser, who just turned 63.
Martinez and Cresser say they’re thriving from the food and fun they have with friends at the Taft Center as part of the Seniors First Neighborhood Lunch. It’s a tradition more than 50 years old, providing healthy meals and social gatherings at various donated spaces and community centers across Orange County.
“We have 17 locations around the county, which is nice because then we can, depending on what neighborhood the senior lives in, it’s not a long drive to get to the program,” said Katherine Brown, director of Communications & Special Events at Seniors First.
Seniors can choose from a variety of activities at each lunch. Various speakers regularly come in to provide pertinent information for seniors, such as scams they need to watch out for, insurance issues, and health matters.
It’s a two-fold experience for UCF School of Nursing student Domonique Noel, who is teaching as well as learning.
“Seniors themselves, they like to be listened to, and they like to be heard. So it’s really good that I get the opportunity to hear them out and just bond with them,” she said.
“There’s lots of stories of people who just, they feel calmer, they feel happier. You know, next to hunger and malnutrition, the biggest threat to our nation’s seniors is isolation and depression, and that’s what this program alleviates. That’s what we want to eradicate. We want people to feel good when they wake up in the morning and have something to look forward to,” Brown said.
Cresser and Martinez say the program not only keeps them from feeling hungry, it helps them feel less alone at this stage in their lives.
“Even though my wife passed away on me last year, but at the same token, this year is what’s keeping me going, being around people that I enjoy being around,” Cresser said.
“We all act like a big family here and everybody takes care of each other and it’s fun. I’m able to communicate and acknowledge everyone that’s here in this table and everywhere else. We are a family and that’s how we feel and Seniors First provides that for us,” Martinez said.
“They deserve our respect, they deserve our support and there’s so many ways to get involved, you know?” Brown said.
Seniors First offers door-to-door van service to help seniors get to the lunches as well as other outings, such as shopping trips.
To learn more about the programs, opportunities, to partner or volunteer, click here.