Older Adults Like Martha and Isaura Turn to Food Pantries for Food Assistance

Martha and Isaura are frequent food recipients at the Baldwin Park SDA Church food pantry

“We’re spending more because the rent, the bills, the insurance, those kinds of costs, a lot for us,” said Martha, a food recipient at the Baldwin Park SDA Church food pantry, a proud Los Angeles Regional Food Bank partner agency.

Martha’s sentiments are commonly heard among older adults living on a fixed income. What used to be a time to be stress-free and enjoy life to the fullest has turned into an everyday struggle to make ends meet.

The Food Bank, along with its network of partner agencies throughout Los Angeles County, collaborates daily to provide food assistance to older adults, such as Martha, individuals, and children who struggle to access consistent meals. The Baldwin Park SDA Church food pantry is among those partner agencies that provide food assistance to its neighbors, whether they are housed or unhoused.

Isaura is another older adult who attends the Church’s drive-through distribution. With two retired adults and a child at home, their retirement income simply isn’t enough. Visits to the food pantry provide access to nutritious food items, especially for future generations.