Thursday Event Highlights Senior Hunger Problem

SPOKANE VALLEY — Several Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake restaurants are participating in a program that will help feed the area’s elderly population.

The Spokane Valley Meals on Wheels program is calling on citizens to “Dine Out … So No Senior Goes Hungry.” Participating restaurants will donate a portion of your tab to help feed the elderly.

The program is aimed to raise awareness on the problem of American seniors going without food. A Meals on Wheels national report released March 5th evaluated “The Causes, Consequences and Future of Senior Hunger in America.”

According to a Meals on Wheels press release, “The most startling finding [of the study] was that 11.4% of all seniors experience some form of food insecurity ranging from worrying that their food would run out before they got money to buy more (the least severe item) to did not eat for a full day three or more times (the most severe).”

Throughout March, the Valley Meals on Wheels program is attempting to counter the problem short term while also raising long term awareness. The main event in this campaign is their “Dine Out … So No Senior Goes Hungry” campaign on Thursday, March 13th, where participating restaurants will donate a portion of customers’ tabs to help in feeding the elderly in need.

Buck’s Pizza Casa de Oro Cuppa Joe’s Café Fiesta Grande Iron Horse Jenny’s Café O’Doherty’s Perkins Quizno’s in Liberty Lake Ron’s Drive In Taco Del Mar on Sullivan Tokyo Teriyaki

Meals on Wheels is also looking for volunteers to help deliver food to the elderly. It’s become increasingly difficult to find volunteers in light of rising gas prices, however organizers want you to know that they have a gas reimbursement plan so the only commitment is a couple hours a week or a month. Visit spokanevalleymealsonwheels.com
 for further information.

To read the entire report on Elderly hunger, click here
.