PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AARP and other local experts traveled to the Greater Northeast section of the city to hear real stories of the serious issue of hunger faced by thousands of older adults in the Philadelphia region. AARP and AARP Foundation today announced a new effort underway to raise the awareness of hunger among the vulnerable 50+ in Philadelphia.
The large nonprofit with 1.8 million members in Pennsylvania, will be working with organizations such as the Raymond and Miriam Klein JCC who face the issues of hunger among community members on a daily basis, especially the most vulnerable 50+ throughout the City of Philadelphia. AARP volunteers and staff from the Mideast region of the country joined the staff and volunteers from the Klein JCC for a day of service; serving and preparing meals and restocking food pantries, that serves hundreds of Northeast Philadelphia community residents.
“Philadelphia’s senior population continues to grow, and so does the need for more resources and support to fight senior hunger,” says Jim Palmquist, AARP State President. “Partnerships between private organizations, non-profits and volunteers that work with local government will be even more necessary to address the critical needs of our aging population.”
According to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey there are nearly 122,000 households in Southeastern Pennsylvania that must reduce the size of meals or skip meals entirely because they cannot afford to purchase adequate amounts of food. These glaring statistics among others serves as a platform for AARP in partnership with the AARP Foundation to award several Philadelphia based community organizations micro grants to aid in the costs of serving the vulnerable 50+ in the fight against hunger.
AARP will select three organizations to receive micro grants based on their community need in the fight against senior hunger. AARP's local micro grant applications will be made available online at www.aarp.org/pa beginning May 6, 2013.
“Nearly 9 million adults age 50 and older are uncertain where their next meal may be coming from, so the time is now to put an end to this issue,” said Rawle Andrews, Esq., AARP Regional Vice President. “We are encouraging for-profits and non-profits to come together on this critical issue affecting entire communities especially children and vulnerable 50+. We can work collectively to cause change.”
AARP members are working together with the Foundation’s overall initiatives to feed those who are hungry now, while also developing long-term, sustainable solutions to the root causes of hunger among those 50 and older.
AARP has 1.8 million members in Pennsylvania. Follow AARP Pennsylvania on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AARPPA and on Twitter @AARPPA.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment security and retirement planning. We advocate for consumers in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP VIVA, a bilingual news source. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.
