"I can't believe the Mission would provide so much good food to a private senior's apartment building every week! These basic staples of life reduce my food bill tremendously. When I get stronger I would like to be a volunteer." ~ Judy

The Senior Mobile Support Program currently serves residents of Lakewood Towers, an independent living facility in Lake Villa, where residency is based on financial criteria. The majority of residents are low-income and food insecure. On a weekly basis, they are offered fresh, perishable and non-perishable foods; personal hygiene products; and cleaning supplies. Healthy choices in food items are provided specifically for the elderly (ie low sodium, low fat, high fiber, foods for people with diabetes). The program is now serving more than 35 residents per week and there is strong interest in having us expand the program to four additional sites.

Many Open Arms clients are older neighbors having to choose between paying for housing, medicine, utility bills or good nutrition. Often they are food insecure or are experiencing hunger. The U.S. Dept of Agriculture defines food insecure people as those who do not have regular access to enough nutritious food for an active and healthy life. They have reduced quality and variety of meals, and may have irregular food intake.

The causes behind the growth in need for food assistance in northern Lake County are numerous, but these factors are major contributors:
•  Elderly population is increasing due to longevity of life, and in some instances living longer that their resources
•  As reported in “A Blueprint to End Hunger,” only 1 in 4 eligible low-income renters received rental assistance, and more than half of poor renters spend 50% or more of their earnings on housing.
•  81.7% of food assistance clients who receive Food Stamps report that their monthly allotment of Food Stamps last for 3 weeks or less; on average they last 2.5 weeks