Brown bagging event in St. Paul helps seniors make ends meet
When most of us imagine our retirement, struggling to afford food probably isn’t part of that picture. Yet approximately one in 10 older adults in America is food insecure.
At the W. 7th Street Salvation Army in St. Paul (pictured), social workers know all too well that living on a fixed income can make it difficult for seniors to make ends meet. That’s why every month they offer a food give away, exclusively for seniors.
“We do encourage them to come to our other food programs, too, but this is a special outreach, just for them,” said Molly Schuneman, team leader at this location. “It’s important to be sure they have staples, but also fresh produce and bread.”
Registration is required ahead of time, but once complete, seniors are invited to choose from tables piled high with bakery items, fresh produce, and deli food. Most of the donations come from local grocery chains like Lunds & Byerlys.
“Oh, I think it’s great, absolutely,” said Evelyn, a regular at the brown bagging event. She lives on a fixed income and has been coming for years. She says the extra food makes a big difference. “Oh my gosh, yes, I mean where else could you get a beautiful pie like this for free? And the bread? It’s just wonderful.”
Every month nearly 100 people go home with bags filled with bread and other staples like canned tuna, rice, spaghetti and sauce. It takes a team of volunteers to make it all possible.
“Being a volunteer is wonderful,” said Melissa Crews, who has helped for more than five years. “I like giving back, it’s just what I do.”
Long-time volunteer Ed Becker says offering his time is what keeps him going during his retirement.
“It feels like you did something, rather than just sitting home and staring out the window,” he said. “I did something good for somebody else.”
If you or somebody you know needs help, it’s available. You can also volunteer – plenty of help is needed to ensure the event continues each month.