Healthy Foods Program

The Healthy Foods Program was created to address food insecurity among seniors and was the first food-delivery program of its kind in the St. Louis area. This program provides seniors with healthy groceries, nutrition education, and community resources because no one should have to overcome food insecurity alone. By offering these resources, St. Andrew’s Charitable Foundation hopes to further its mission of helping our seniors be happy and healthy while remaining in their homes for as long as possible.

According to Food Insecurity Among Seniors and Older Adults in 2022, 7.8% of Missouri seniors, aged 60 and older, are food insecure. In St. Louis, MO-IL 6.6% of seniors were food insecure with 3.3% being very low food secure according to the State of Senior Hunger 2021. Food insecurity among seniors is prevalent in our community and can have serious negative effects on a person’s physical and mental health.

This multi-faceted program launched in 2021 serves low-income seniors living in St. Louis County and St. Louis City who are experiencing food insecurity. There is a myriad of factors that cause seniors to lose food security such as:

• Financial Limitations to Food Security: 56% of St. Louis City seniors live below the economic security threshold. Not having financial security has forced some seniors to choose between buying groceries or other essential such as medications.
• Geographic Limitations to Food Security: Many seniors live in “food deserts,” defined as areas with limited access to affordable, high-quality grocery stores and don’t hve their own transportation. If seniors don’t have access to transportation or a grocery store close by, gaining access to healthy food can be a monumental challenge.

The Healthy Foods Program Components

• Grocery Delivery: Seniors receive healthy groceries delivered to their home on a regular basis through a food delivery vendor. St. Andrew’s Social Services Director personalizes orders to meet each senior’s nutritional needs.
• SNAP Guidance: Qualified seniors are referred to benefit counsellors at St. Louis Area Agency on Aging and Aging Ahead to assist them in applying for SNAP and other programs.
• Nutritional Education: A Healthy Foods newsletter with nutrition information and healthy recipes are provided to seniors along with nutrition guidance when grocery orders are taken.