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HOPE
For many senior citizens living on a fixed or limited income, an ample food budget is often overshadowed by payments for rent and utilities and the cost of much-needed medications.
Without a consistent source of staple groceries, many of these senior citizens might be struggling with food insecurity and potential malnutrition.
Thank you HOPE sponsors: |
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Babcock & Brown Church World Service's CROP WALK Against Hunger Donald D. Hammill Foundation Finn Family Foundation Isla Carroll Turner Friendship Trust Roy F. & Joann Cole Mitte Foundation Seriff Legacy Fund St. David's Community Health Foundation Topfer Family Foundation Austin University Area Rotary Club Interested in sponsoring HOPE? Get started by filling out a sponsorship request form. |
The Healthy Options Program for the Elderly, or HOPE, was created by the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas in an effort to curb hunger and food insecurity challenging the elderly.
Through HOPE, the Food Bank partners with neighborhood centers, churches and other agencies like Meals on Wheels and More who are already working with senior citizens age 60 and older.
After extensive outreach efforts, staff members and volunteers of the neighborhood centers identify those seniors in need of supplemental food assistance. These collaborating agencies then qualify potential HOPE clients for the program using United States Department of Agriculture income eligibility requirements and the federal poverty threshold.
Each month, HOPE clients can receive an 18 to 25-pound bag of groceries to supplement their existing diet. This bag of staples includes items like canned vegetables and meats, cereal, pasta and soups. Fresh produce and personal hygiene products are also included.
Through HOPE, more than 1,700 senior citizens receive supplemental food items each month.
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A HOPE Client Shares... |
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I've relied on HOPE for more than two years now. I only get $26 a month in food stamps, and my disability check doesn't pay for much. I need to get the help from somewhere, and it's so nice that I can count on this program. I'm so very grateful." - Mary Elias HOPE Client, East Austin Neighborhood Center |
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A Partner Agency Shares... |
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"I wanted to let you know how much the elderly truly appreciated the HOPE groceries. There were several that were just thanking us over and over. There was one couple who you could tell had never done anything like this before and it was hard for them, but they so appreciated being handled with dignity. There is a mobile home park that has retired/elderly residents, and many have worked hard all their lives and now for one reason or another are finding it hard to make ends meet. The manager of the mobile home park commented to me how she appreciated the HOPE program because it would make the difference between some of them making it or not making it. I was also told that some of the elderly will not go to the other food programs because they are fearful to stand in line with people other than other seniors. One lady said how grateful she was for the boost to be able to give to her husband to get him built back up after surgery. Over and over were the comments of gratitude for the food and for the carts. So many people walk to the food site and have no way to bring their groceries back home with them. There are senior citizens who only get meals on wheels food and they do not get but one meal a day and do not get those meals on the weekends, so they appreciate the food as well. We stand in awe and are humbled to be able to serve the food you have provided. Thank you." - Donna, Lifegate Christian Fellowship |
HOPE Sites:
Blackland Neighborhood Center
The Caring Place
Caritas of Mexia
East Austin Neighborhood Center
Helping Center of Marble Falls
Housing Services at Primrose
Lifegate Christian Fellowship
Meals on Wheels and More
Montopolis Neighborhood Center
Rivers of Life Family Worship Center
Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center
Round Rock Area Serving Center
South Austin Neighborhood Center
St. John's Community Center
The Storehouse
Need food assistance? View this month's HOPE Calendar.
For more information about HOPE, contact us.
