This Older Americans Month, Help Fight Senior Hunger

Older Americans Month, which was originally called “Senior Citizens Month” and takes place in May each year, was designated in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy and the National Council of Senior Citizens as a time to pay tribute to the contributions of past and current older persons to our country. At that time, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. Today, about one in every seven Americans is over the age of 65 and by 2040 that number will swell to one in five.

Older adults deserve our honor, our sincere gratitude, and our respect for all that they have done to build and sustain our great Nation. Unfortunately, nearly 5 million seniors struggle with hunger in the U.S. So while there are many ways you can honor our country’s growing elderly population, perhaps one of the best ways to show your gratitude is to make sure they are taken care of and nourished. 

This May, join us in celebrating Older Americans Month by fighting senior hunger.

To do this, we can’t think of two better organizations to support than America’s Charities’ nonprofit members, Feeding America and Meals on Wheels America. One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and for more ways to support them!​

• Feeding America: The rate of hunger among seniors aged 60 and older has increased by 45% since 2001, a lingering effect of the 2008-09 recession. At the current rate, the number of food-insecure seniors may grow to more than 8 million by 2050. After a lifetime of hard work, 63% of the households with older adults (50+) that Feeding America serves find themselves facing an impossible choice — to buy groceries or medical care. And as the baby-boom generation ages, the number of seniors facing hunger is only expected to increase. Feeding America is working hard to prevent this. Click here to learn why hunger pains can be increasingly painful as we age and for ways you can help Feeding America address this issue. A $1 donation helps Feeding America provide $20 worth of groceries (wholesale value) for 46 million individuals served who struggle with hunger in the U.S.
• Meals on Wheel America: Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based senior nutrition programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. This network, along with more than two million volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, research, education and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. $10 can help ensure that vulnerable, homebound seniors nationwide receive a warm meal and friendly visit from a caring volunteer. Click here to learn more about Meals on Wheels and ways to support their work.