Senior Hunger and CSFP

Though 72-year-old Nevada resident Robert Blake has long been retired from his job as a Los Angeles city bus driver, he continues to live a vibrant life with the spirit of someone much younger.  Although Robert receives Social Security payments, he depends on the monthly box of commodity food supplements he receives from the Food Bank of Northern Nevada to supply him with the energy he needs to get through his busy days.

On an average morning, Robert wakes early and heads to the local YMCA to exercise before heading over to the Washoe County Senior Center, an agency affiliated with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, a Member of America’s Second Harvest—the Nation’s Food Bank Network.  At the center, Robert can relax or shoot pool with friends and fill up on a nutritious lunch three times a week.  Once a month, he brings home a box of groceries provided by the Food Bank’s Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).  Robert finds that the food is especially helpful towards the end of each month when his budget begins to stretch thin.

 “The food is excellent, and I’m glad I can get it,” said Robert.  “I splurge a little the first few days of the month, but then I use the CSFP food the last four or five days of the month until my check gets here.”

Though he says he is completely healthy now, Robert faced a medical emergency when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer several years ago.  After undergoing over thirty treatments, Robert beat his cancer and now concentrates on the positive elements in his life.  

“Like my grandfather told me, you just have to keep on living,” said Robert.  

 During and after his battle with cancer, Robert found that the Food Bank of Northern Nevada and its partner agencies were there to support him with food and friendship.  Without the supplemental food, Robert says, he “would be a lot skinnier and would not have as much good food to eat.  It helps me immensely and also quite a few other people.”