Bridging the Gap

Many elders must choose between paying bills, buying medication or buying food. Some elders are unaware that they qualify for food assistance, or would feel stigmatized using it. Only 1 in 3 eligible seniors (60+) participate in 3SquaresVT (SNAP), a federal nutrition program of the USDA administered by the Vermont Department for Children and Families. Over 14,000 (11%) of Vermont seniors face the threat of hunger and almost 7,000 (5%) are at-risk for hunger (food-insecure). Food insecurity can be screened for by using Hunger Free Vermont’s Two Question Screen.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1136/thumbnail.jp