Recent data show that 29% of seniors in Orange County are experiencing food insecurity, which means they do not have enough food, especially for a healthy and active life. This number is drastically rising, partially because older adults are the fastest-growing demographic, creating a “silver tsunami” of residents reaching the age of 65 and older. This surge is fueled by the swell of seniors projected to represent nearly a quarter of the country’s population in just a few decades. Inflation and the jump in grocery store prices by 25% since 2020—with no sign of receding—are also contributing to this challenging scenario. April marks Senior Hunger Awareness Month, and the pressing need to address seniors’ nutritional well-being demands sustained attention and action.

Amid this growing need, organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and Meals on Wheels Orange County play a crucial role in addressing senior hunger. Sharing a common goal to provide nutritious food to this vulnerable population, these nonprofits meet seniors where they are and ensure they are able to access the vital nutrition necessary for their health and vitality.

In collaboration with its partners, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County provides dignified, equitable and consistent access to nutritious food, creating a foundation for community health. Second Harvest has pioneered the Park-It Market program to address this need among older adults as a key component of its Senior Grocery Program. The Park-It Market program debuted in 2018 as a national first: A mobile walk-up market housed within a refrigerated trailer for seniors to select fresh produce, protein, and dairy, free of charge and right from their doorstep at senior centers and senior apartment communities across the county. Second Harvest also recently released a “proof-of-concept” Park-It Market 2 trailer–lovingly dubbed “Granny’s Market” in honor of the mother whose family foundation’s generous contribution helped to launch the vehicle–double-sided and equipped with shelving that allows seniors to grab the food that they want.

Meals on Wheels Orange County is committed to erasing hunger and loneliness for at-risk seniors through nutritious meals, therapeutic care, social connections, and other services that help them maintain their independence and quality of life. Meals on Wheels OC is advancing the vision, overall strategic initiatives, and priorities and is a deeply committed advocate of senior health in Orange County. Nutritious recipes are planned by a registered dietician and distributed through Meals on Wheels’ Lunch Café programs and Adult Day Health Care centers or the Meals on Wheels’ home-delivered program, thus meeting 100% of the daily nutritional value this vulnerable population needs.

Ensuring that low and fixed-income seniors receive food deliveries is just one aspect of senior nutrition. Equally crucial is the provision of nutritious foods essential for maintaining their health. It is important that seniors make every bite count and prioritize protein and fiber-rich foods like oatmeal, beans, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Appetite can also diminish with age, so it is important that seniors have three meals a day and drink lots of water to stay hydrated.

In Orange County, where one in four older adults grapples with food insecurity, the looming “silver tsunami” and surging grocery prices underscore the critical role of organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and Meals on Wheels Orange County. To access support or aid a senior in need, individuals can visit feedoc.org/need-food or call 211 or the Orange County Office on Aging toll-free at (800) 510-2020.

Financial support is indispensable to sustain these essential programs, ensuring no senior goes hungry or feels forgotten in our community. You can also give your time by volunteering for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County or Meals on Wheels in Orange County. Together, let’s recognize Senior Hunger Awareness Month with a reaffirmed commitment to senior nutrition and well-being and to safeguarding the health and dignity of Orange County’s cherished elders.

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BIOS:

Holly Hagler, President & CEO, Meals on Wheels Orange County

Holly Hagler is the President & CEO of Meals on Wheels Orange County, one of California’s largest safety‐net nonprofits providing social, nutrition, and health services to older adults. For more than 14 years, Holly has fearlessly led Meals on Wheels OC in advancing the vision, overall strategic initiatives, and priorities and is a deeply committed advocate of senior health in Orange County.

Meals on Wheels Orange County provided nearly a million meals annually before COVID‐19 to at‐risk older adults in Orange County, and this number dramatically increased to two million at the height of the pandemic. The nonprofit also provides social services such as Adult Day Health Care, Case Management, Care Coordination, and other programs designed to help older adults remain safe in their homes and the communities they love. These programs are funded in part through a grant from the California Department of Aging and administered by the Orange County Office on Aging.

Holly serves on the boards of directors for Meals on Wheels America and Meals on Wheels California and as co‐chair of Partners at Home Community Care Hub.  She is also past board chair for the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Providers, past co‐chair of the Orange County Aging Services Collaborative, and served on the Leadership Council for the Orange County Strategic Plan for Aging.  Holly’s career spans senior‐level business and nonprofit positions. She earned a Master of Management (MM) from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University and dual undergraduate degrees from the University of California, Irvine.

Claudia Bonilla Keller, CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank

Claudia Bonilla Keller is the CEO of Second Harvest, a leading food bank in Orange County. With over two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, she oversees outreach efforts to donors, community partners, and volunteers to address food insecurity. Under her leadership, Second Harvest adapted its business model during the COVID-19 pandemic, strategically purchasing nutritious food to meet the increased demand. She also spearheaded the establishment of Harvest Solutions Farm in Irvine, a 40-acre farm partnership with the University of California South Coast Research & Extension Center and Solutions for Urban Agriculture, which produces over 50,000 pounds of fresh produce weekly for distribution to those in need. In fiscal year 2023, Second Harvest distributed 36.3 million pounds of food to a monthly average of 393,000 people per month.

Prior to her role at Second Harvest, Keller held senior positions at organizations like the LA Promise Fund and the American Heart Association, where she led impactful programs in education and health. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration. She actively contributes to various boards and organizations focused on food insecurity, such as serving on the boards of the California Association of Food Banks and Abound FoodCare.