Home Deliveries Reach More Seniors

Each month, the Food Bank’s Senior Nutrition Team serves nearly 9,000 seniors through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).

The food box initiative reaches all 34 counties through drive-up locations and direct deliveries.

For many seniors, barriers such as transportation or mobility mean that home delivery is critical to accessing their box each month. And thanks to our pantry network, dedicated local volunteers, and partners like DoorDash, we delivered more than 19,500 boxes of food and other essential resources to seniors’ homes this year.

“I am so thankful every month for my box. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to you. There’s never enough words to say how pleasant everyone is there.”

– Senior food box program participant Enfield, NC

The boxes provided through CSFP include non-perishable pantry staples like rice, beans, and pasta — paired with fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, and protein that are purchased by the Food Bank.

Combined, this regular, dependable resource helps meet the dietary needs of seniors in our community. And none of it would be possible without the incredible contributions of our volunteers, who are involved at every step of the process from box assembly to delivery.

At the Food Bank, we do everything we can to provide versatile, culturally-familiar products — especially in areas with few other healthy options.

Of the 1,500+ seniors who participated in our recent survey, 88% reported that the box makes up at least half of the food they consume in a month. It's a common theme among neighbors struggling to get by on fixed incomes as the cost of food and housing continues to rise. Challenges are even deeper in rural communities, where the distance to full grocery stores and transportation limitations keep healthy options out of reach for many seniors. 

Senior food boxes are a critical supplement to our network of local pantries, meal sites, and delivery programs like Meals on Wheels. And with the 65+ population growing in North Carolina  — and significant cuts to SNAP grocery support and Medicaid health coverage on the horizon — programs like CSFP are more important than ever before!