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AND FILLING OUT THE PAPERWORK, ENCOURAGING THEM TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY APPLY FOR THOSE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
Black: YOU KNOW, DEAN, ANOTHER GOOD PROGRAM IS LOOKING THROUGH
THE NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF AGING & ADULT SERVICES,
ALL OF THE CONGREGATE NUTRITION SITES, AS WELL AS
THE HOME-DELIVERED MEALS PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
ALSO, THE 21st CENTURY FARMERS MARKET PROGRAM, WHERE PEOPLE CAN
GET SOME VOUCHERS AND ACTUALLY GO TO THE LOCAL FARMERS MARKET
AND GET LOCAL, WONDERFUL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE THAT THEY JUST HAVE TO BE
60 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE PROGRAMS.
Burgiss: AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY AND HEALTH,
IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BRING UP THAT CORRELATION. MICHAEL?
Calopietro: SURE. YEAH, THANKS, HEATHER.
THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN HEALTH OUTCOMES BETWEEN
THOSE WHO ARE FOOD-SECURE AND THOSE WHO ARE FOOD-INSECURE.
BIGGEST ONES THAT WE SEE ARE...
ABOUT A 6% INCREASE IN THE RATE OF DIABETES
AMONGST THE FOOD-INSECURE OVER THEIR FOOD-SECURE PEERS.
WE ALSO SEE ABOUT A 10-TIME GREATER CHANCE OF
EXPERIENCING DEPRESSION, WHICH IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
THEY ARE, BY AND LARGE, LESS LIKELY TO BE IN WHAT'S CALLED
EXCELLENT OR VERY GOOD HEALTH,
JUST GENERAL EXCELLENT AND VERY GOOD HEALTH,
OVER THEIR FOOD-SECURE PARTNERSHIPS.
NOW, THERE MIGHT BE OTHER THINGS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THESE
HEALTH OUTCOMES, BUT FOOD SECURITY IS
CERTAINLY PLAYING A PART.
AND WE HAVE TO THINK, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SOLUTIONS AROUND
FOOD SECURITY AND THE COST OF THOSE SOLUTIONS,
THERE'S ALSO A FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THESE HEALTH OUTCOMES, RIGHT?
AND SO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR YOUR DOLLAR,
YOU HAVE TO BRING IN THE EXPENSES RELATED TO THESE
NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES INTO THAT EQUATION,
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT THE INCIDENCE OF CHRONIC DISEASE
INCREASES SO MUCH WHEN SENIORS AND OLDER ADULTS
ARE NOT FED DAILY, WHEN THEY DON'T GET THAT NUTRITION.
SUZANNE LaFOLLETTE-BLACK, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHAT GOES ON WHEN AN OLDER ADULT DOESN'T GET
DAILY MEALS LIKE THEY SHOULD?
WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK OF MANY OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE--
ESPECIALLY IN CERTAIN MINORITY GROUPS THAT HAVE
CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, AND DIABETES.
AND IF SOMEONE HAS DIABETES, THEY MUST HAVE SOME KIND OF
FOOD SOURCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SAFE AND THEY WON'T HAVE
AN ATTACK OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND SO IT'S VERY CRUCIAL THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT NUTRIENTS
AND FOOD TO HELP THEM THROUGH THEIR CHRONIC DISEASE
THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE.
Calopietro: NUTRITIONALLY, FOOD-INSECURE PEOPLE GET
LESS ENERGY SOURCES, SO THAT'S LESS CARBS, LESS PROTEINS,
LESS FATS, THEY GET LESS IRON, THEY GET LESS PHOSPOROUS.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE NEEDED FOR HEALTHY BONE DENSITY,
FOR HEALTHY LIVING, FOR CONTROLLING YOUR DIABETES AS YOU AGE.
Briggs: AND ALSO, IN THIS CONTEXT, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER
AS THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, THIS IS AN EXPENSE
THAT'S BEING BORNE BY MANY OF US.
IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF OUR SENIORS, IF WE DON'T KEEP THEM
HEALTHY, MANY OF THOSE COSTS ARE BEING PASSED ON...
Calopietro: THAT'S RIGHT.
AT A TIME WHEN MANY AMERICANS ARE FEELING THE PINCH
AND FEELING A TIGHT BUDGET.
IT'S AN INVESTMENT I THINK WE ALL WANT TO TAKE SERIOUSLY,
THAT LOOKING AFTER THE HEALTH OF THIS COMMUNITY BENEFITS US ALL.
AND IT'S INTERESTING THE IMPACT IT HAS
IN A BIGGER ECONOMIC CONTEXT.
MANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS NOW ARE SAYING NEW BUSINESSES
WILL LOOK AT COMMUNITIES' HEALTH PROFILES BECAUSE THEY KNOW
THE BIGGEST COST OF DOING BUSINESS WILL BE THEIR
HEALTH CARE COST, AND IF A COMMUNITY HAS HIGH RATES
OF HEART DISEASE OR DIABETES, IN THAT SENSE, THEY'RE BEING
RED-LINED FOR INVESTMENT, FOR NEW JOBS,
AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES.
SO IT REALLY HAS, AS YOU'VE NOTED,
A BIG RIPPLING EFFECT FOR ALL OF US.
Simpson: AND ONE THING THAT-- WITH THE FOOD NUTRITION SERVICES
PROGRAM, WHICH I KIND OF WANT TO JUST SAY THERE ARE SEVERAL NAMES
THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR THE FORMER FOOD STAMP PROGRAM.
THE FEDERAL NAME NOW IS SNAP, WHICH IS THE SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, WE CALL IT
THE FOOD & NUTRITION SERVICES PROGRAM.
BUT PART OF THAT PROGRAM--WE DO OUTREACH, NUMBER ONE,
WHICH IS A REALLY PRIME PRODUCT OF FOOD NUTRITION SERVICES,
THAT WE CAN GO OUT AND DO OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITIES
AND REALLY TARGET THE ELDERLY POPULATION.
BUT ANOTHER ASPECT OF IT IS DOING NUTRITION EDUCATION,
WHICH IS THE FEDERAL "MY PLATE," WHICH DOES THE PORTIONS,
AS WELL AS IT SHOULD BE A COLORFUL PLATE.
AND HAVING A VERY WELL-BALANCED DIET INTAKE, AND THEN PROTEIN,
FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, DAIRY, AND ALL OF THE PIECES OF "MY PLATE"
MAKES FOR A MORE HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL.
SO WE REALLY SPEND A LOT OF TIME DOING NUTRITION EDUCATION
WITH THE FOOD NUTRITION PROGRAM.
Blake: AND A GREAT PARTNER WITH THAT IS THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, WHICH--
THEY HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED "MORE IN MY BASKET,"
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY DOING EDUCATION ABOUT YOUR FOOD SOURCE,
BUT ALSO WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE AND TRYING TO GET
PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR--FORMALLY CALLED FOOD STAMPS--FNS.
ALL RIGHT. AND I KNOW IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE TALK A LOT ABOUT OUTREACH BECAUSE
IT REALLY IS A SILENT PROBLEM A LOT OF TIMES.
PEOPLE SORT OF SUFFER IN SILENCE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT, MICHAEL?
YEAH. IT'S INTERESTING YOU SAID THAT.
WE OFTEN CALL OLDER-ADULT HUNGER SORT OF A SILENT EPIDEMIC.
IT IS TRUE, AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE, I THINK,
THERE IS IN MANY PLACES A CULTURAL SORT OF VALUE CONCEPT
WHERE WE DEVALUE AGING OR DEVALUE OLDER PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SO I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST THING
THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT OLDER ADULTS AS VALUABLE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY
AND OF THE COMMUNITY, AND TO CARE ABOUT THEM.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST STEP IN ENDING THIS SILENT EPIDEMIC,
AND I THINK THE SECOND STEP IS AWARENESS CREATION.
IT'S PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, IT'S ALL OF THE COMMUNITY-LEVEL
OUTREACH, IT'S THE DRIVE DOWN HUNGER PROGRAM THAT
AARP FOUNDATION PRODUCES TO MAKE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
AWARE OF THIS ISSUE.
FOOD INSECURITY IN AMERICA IS NOT ABOUT FOOD.
THERE'S MORE THAN ENOUGH FOOD IN THIS COUNTRY TO FEED EVERYONE.
FOOD INSECURITY IN AMERICA IS ABOUT ACCESS, IT'S ABOUT
EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO HAVE THE MEANS TO ACQUIRE THAT FOOD,
AND I THINK IT'S CREATING THAT AWARENESS THAT WE HELP TO
ACCOMPLISH THROUGH SORT OF THESE EFFORTS.
ALAN, IN NORTH CAROLINA, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
PARTNER AGENCIES, HOW CRUCIAL IS THAT LINK FROM THE FOOD BANK
TO THOSE PARTNER AGENCIES?
OH, IT IS THE LIFE LINE.
IF YOU LOOKED AT IT FROM A PHYSICAL STANDPOINT, IN ESSENCE,
WE ARE THE HEART AND LUNGS OF THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
BUT THE CAPILLARIES-- WHERE THE NUTRITION GOES OUT,
AS IT WERE, TO THE STATE AND THE PEOPLE IN NEED--ARE THROUGH OUR
ALMOST 3,000 LOCAL SOUP KITCHENS, CHURCH PANTRIES, SHELTERS,
FEEDING STATIONS, SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND SO FORTH.
THEY ARE--WITHOUT THEM, WE COULDN'T FUNCTION.
AND AS WAS NOTED IN THE VIDEO, MOST OF THE STAFFING FOR THOSE
TYPES OF PARTNERS ARE VOLUNTEERS.
IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE TO SEE HOW COMMUNITIES DO RESPOND,
AND THE BEAUTY OF A PROGRAM, OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS
ARE TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE.
AS I SAID BEFORE, I THINK MOST NORTH CAROLINIANS
ARE VERY SENSITIVE AND GENEROUS, BUT THEY REALLY--AS YOU NOTED,
THIS IS AN INVISIBLE THING, OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE EXTENT OF HUNGER,
AND WHEN THEY ARE AWARE, THEY DO RESPOND.
YOU MENTIONED PEOPLE ARE PROUD, SUZANNE, THAT A LOT OF TIMES
IT'S HARD TO GET THE OLDER ADULT TO ADMIT
THAT THEY NEED THE HELP.
HOW CAN OTHERS SORT OF SEE THE SIGNS AND BE ABLE TO REACH OUT?
WELL, ONE THING THAT AARP IS DOING HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA
IS THAT WE HAVE A CADRE OF VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE CALLED
DRIVE DOWN HUNGER VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO GO OUT
INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES TO IDENTIFY WHERE THERE MIGHT BE
SOME FOOD INSECURITY.
AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS PARTNER WITH CHURCHES,
FAITH-BASED GROUPS, ALONG WITH THE FOOD BANKS
AND OTHER COALITIONS AND FOOD PANTRIES TO PUT UP A MINI-CLINIC
TO SEE IF ANYBODY MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE THROUGH
A PRE-SCREENING PROCESS FOR FNS.
IT'S KIND OF BUILDING UP RELATIONSHIPS,
IT'S BUILDING TRUST AND MAKING SURE THAT WHEN OUR VOLUNTEERS
AND OUR PARTNER GROUPS WORK TOGETHER THAT WE CAN BE
THE GO-TO SOURCE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED HELP.
SO IT'S ACTUALLY TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT AND TRYING TO BUILD
THAT TRUST AND RELATIONSHIP IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.
AND I KNOW THAT BEING ON THE FRONT LINES OF HUNGER,
FOR MANY OF THOSE PARTNER AGENCIES, IT'S DEVASTATING
TO WATCH DAY TO DAY AND TO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE--THEY TALK ABOUT THEIR PRIDE OF THOSE
WELL-BALANCED MEAL BOXES THAT THEY HAND OUT,
AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK IN THE NEXT PIECE.
PRODUCER THOMAS TODD SHOWS US HOW ONE ORGANIZATION
GOES MOBILE IN COMBATING HUNGER.
Narrator: ONE OF THE MANY AGENCIES THAT HAVE DECIDED
TO HELP FEED THE HUNGRY IN NORTH CAROLINA
IS THE INTERFAITH FOOD SHUTTLE IN RALEIGH.
THE NONPROFIT COMPANY BEGAN THIS WORK IN 1989,
WHEN OWNERS JILL STATON BULLARD AND MAXINE SOLOMON
DECIDED TO RESCUE GOOD FOOD THAT WAS BEING DISCARDED
BY LOCAL RESTAURANTS.
Bullard: MAXINE AND I WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT RESOURCE WASTE,
SEEING GOOD FOOD BEING THROWN AWAY AND THAT LOCAL FOOD.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE RAISED BY DEPRESSION-ERA PARENTS
WHERE WASTE WAS NOT TOLERATED, AND SO WE DECIDED TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
Narrator: OVER THE PAST 23 YEARS, THE INTERFAITH
FOOD SHUTTLE COMPANY HAS GROWN FROM AN AGENCY RECOVERING
750 POUNDS OF FOOD FROM 3 DONORS TO MANY.
Woman: BACK HERE, THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS.
EVERY YEAR, WE RECOVER ABOUT 7.1 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD
ACROSS OUR 7 COUNTIES, AND SO THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE
THAT FOOD COMES IN AND THE PLACE WHERE THAT FOOD GOES OUT.
WE HAVE ABOUT 16 REFRIGERATED VEHICLES THAT PICK UP FOOD
FROM LOCAL DONORS, LIKE THE GROCERY STORES, FARMERS MARKET,
LOCAL FARMERS, AND THEN WE TAKE THAT OUT TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED.
Narrator: IN PAST YEARS, THE INTERFAITH FOOD SHUTTLE COMPANY
NOTICED MANY OLDER ADULTS HAVING TO UNEXPECTEDLY RELY ON
THEIR COMPANY TO HELP MAKE ENDS MEET.
Bullard: PEOPLE WORK ALL OF THEIR LIVES, AND SOCIAL SECURITY
IS NOT ENOUGH IN TODAY'S MARKETPLACE TO PAY RENT,
TO PAY FOR MEDICATIONS AND TO BUY FOOD
AND TO TAKE CARE OF TRANSPORTATION.
IT'S AN ISSUE THAT IS JUST INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY GROWING
AMONG OUR SENIOR POPULATION, AND PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IT.
YOU KNOW, THEY ASSUME THAT SOCIAL SECURITY WAS GOING TO
TAKE CARE OF THEM BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE PROMISED,
AND IT DOESN'T.
Narrator: TO HELP MEET THE FOOD NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS LIVING IN
THE 7 COUNTIES THAT THE INTERFAITH FOOD SHUTTLE SERVES,
THE COMPANY BEGAN A BAGGIE PROGRAM THAT USES VOLUNTEERS
TO DELIVER NOURISHING MEALS TO OLDER ADULTS.
Baker: UNFORTUNATELY, SENIORS ARE ONE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT WORKING,
THEY'RE ON FIXED INCOMES, AND SO A LOT OF TIMES,
HUNGER HITS THEM THE HARDEST, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY DON'T
HAVE A SUPPORT GROUP OR FAMILIES WHO CAN HELP PROVIDE.
SO WE HAVE SOME SPECIFIC SENIOR PROGRAMS, LIKE GROCERY BAGS,
WHERE WE DISTRIBUTE ABOUT 70,000 GROCERY BAGS.
WE HAVE YOUR BAG OF FOOD [INDISTINCT].
THANK YOU!
Woman: THE RESIDENTS HERE LOOK FORWARD VERY, VERY MUCH,
AND WE ARE VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT THEY DO.
THEY BRING US VERY BASIC FOOD,
BUT IT'S FOODS THAT WE DEFINITELY CAN USE.
THE PEOPLE HERE ARE ON LIMITED INCOMES, SO MONEY IS A FACTOR,
PARTICULARLY IN THIS DAY AND TIME.
AND WE ARE JUST SO APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYTHING THEY DO;
NOT JUST THE FOOD SHUTTLE, BUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO
DISTRIBUTE IT THROUGH OUR BUILDING, TOO.
I NEED THIS SO MUCH TODAY 'CAUSE I DON'T FEEL WELL, SO I JUST--
I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH!
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
SO WE CAN SEE THE IMPACT THAT THIS IS MAKING.
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW-- SUZANNE, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHAT DIFFERENCE THIS IS MAKING IN THE LIVES OF THOSE SENIORS.
OH, BOY.
JUST SEEING THAT WOMAN'S FACE AND THE GRATITUDE SHE HAD
FOR SOMEONE TO THINK OF HER AND TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE'S OK--
THEY CARE ABOUT HER, AND THAT SHE EATS RIGHT.
AND THAT REALLY SAYS IT.
IT GETS ME A LITTLE TEARY-EYED. HA!
BUT I KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE THE FOOD,
THE PARTNER AGENCIES OUT ON THE FRONT LINES,
YOU REALIZE THAT VOLUNTEERS ARE SO CRUCIAL.
IS THAT CORRECT, ALAN?
ABSOLUTELY. IN FACT, SOMETIMES WE JOKE THAT
WE ARE THE MODEL FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE.
WE HAVE BUSINESSES WHO WILL SEND IN THEIR MANAGEMENT TEAMS
TO WORK AT THE FOOD BANK FOR A DAY.
AND WE MAKE IT EASY, WE ARE USED TO HAVING PEOPLE COME IN.
CHURCH GROUPS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT, YOUNG FOLKS IN
HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE DOING THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK.
LITERALLY, WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULD NOT FUNCTION,
AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT FOOD BANKS--
WE TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF PRIDE IN OUR EFFICIENCY.
ABOUT 95 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR DONATED TO A FOOD BANK
GOES OUT IN FOOD, AND WE COULDN'T DO THAT
IF IT WEREN'T FOR THIS VAST ARRAY OF VOLUNTEERS
WHO COME AND WORK WITH US.
I KNOW. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE INNOVATIVE
WAYS THAT SOME OF THESE
PARTNER AGENCIES ARE GETTING THE FOOD OUT,
SOME OF THE NEW STRATEGIES?
Briggs: WELL, JUST THIS WEEK, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE STORY
IN GOLDSBORO OF A GROUP OF FARM-TO-TABLE FOLKS
IN THE COMMUNITY ARE DISTRIBUTING FOOD THROUGH
LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS ON RICKSHAWS.
THEY'RE HIRING STUDENTS, YOUNG PEOPLE, TEACHING THEM
BUSINESS SKILLS AND DOING THEIR MATH,
DELIVERING FOOD OUT TO FOLKS WHO HAVE NO ACCESS TO THE FOOD,
AND THEY'RE PURCHASING THAT FOOD FROM LOCAL FARMERS,
SO IT'S ALSO HAVING A BENEFICIAL IMPACT ECONOMICALLY OF
ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR COMMUNITY FARMERS.
AND I'M SURE OTHERS WILL COMMENT, BUT THAT PROBABLY
WILL BE, I THINK--ONE OF THE SHORT-TERM SHIFTS
IS MORE AND MORE IN A STATE LIKE NORTH CAROLINA
TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR...
BLESSED CLIMATE AND THE STRENGTH OF OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY
AND MAKING MORE DIRECT CONNECTIONS TO GETTING THAT
FRESH PRODUCE ONTO THE TABLE.
AND WE'VE HEARD SEVERAL MENTION, IF WE HAVE A BIG CHALLENGE,
IT'S INCORPORATING FRESHER, HIGHER-QUALITY
FOODS AND PRODUCE--FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND SO ON--
INTO OUR DIETARY STREAM.
Simpson: ONE OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING WITH
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES IS REALLY TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF SOME FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN
APPROPRIATED TO WORK WITH FARMERS MARKETS,
TO GET FARMERS MARKETS TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THE EBT MACHINES
SO THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THE EBT CARD AND BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR ANYONE WHO
CURRENTLY RECEIVES BENEFITS.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER
THE PAST 6 MONTHS THAT WE'RE REALLY--DOING WEBINARS TO GET
FARMERS MARKETS AWARE THAT WE WILL PAY FOR THE EQUIPMENT,
SO WE'RE REALLY ENCOURAGING THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, I WAS LOOKING AT WAYS THAT
THE--NATIONALLY, YOU'RE LOOKING AT COMBATING HUNGER
AND BEING ABLE TO GET FOOD OUT, NUTRITIOUS FOOD.
SURE. CERTAINLY, I THINK THERE'S
A REALLY--A VERY BIG MOVEMENT TOWARD BRINGING FARMERS MARKETS
INTO THE SNAP OR IN NORTH CAROLINA FNS PROGRAM,
SO THAT'S ONE BIG WAY. MOBILE PANTRIES.
THERE'S SOMETHING IN THIS COUNTRY CALLED FOOD DESERTS,
OR ALSO BEEN CALLED FOOD SWAMPS.
FOOD DESERTS ARE TRACTS OF LAND, GEOGRAPHIC AREAS,
WHERE THERE ISN'T A READILY AVAILABLE SUPPLY OF
COMMERCIALLY SOLD FOOD.
SO THERE ARE NO GROCERY STORES, THERE ARE NO SAM'S CLUBS,
THERE ARE NO FARMERS MARKETS.
AND PEOPLE HAVE TO DRIVE QUITE LONG DISTANCES TO BUY FOOD,
AND SO THERE ARE WAYS TO BRING FOOD INTO THAT COMMUNITY
THROUGH MOBILE PANTRIES.
THERE ARE OVER 600 FOOD DESERTS IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I THINK
THERE ARE SOMETHING AROUND 60 OF THEM IN NORTH CAROLINA ALONE,
SO WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH ACCESS ISSUES,
AS WELL AS AFFORDABILITY AND ABILITY TO PURCHASE.
AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS ABOUT
BRINGING FOOD TO PEOPLE, SO THAT THE PEOPLE DON'T
HAVE TO COME TO FOOD.
BECAUSE MOBILITY IS AN ISSUE, AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
MOBILITY, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT VOLUNTEERS
IN OUTREACH CAN COMBAT THAT?
WHEN YOU HAVE ISSUES OF MOBILITY, WHAT ARE SOME OF
THE OTHER WAYS THAT-- WHEN YOU HAVE OUTREACH?
WELL, FOR THE ELDERLY POPULATION OR FOR ANYONE THAT RECEIVES
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME, WHICH IS SSI,
ONE OF THE DEMO GRANTS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN
NORTH CAROLINA IS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE AN APPLICATION,
CERTIFY A HOUSEHOLD THAT IS A SINGLE-PERSON HOUSEHOLD,
AND THEY RECEIVE SSI.
AND MOST OF THE SSI RECIPIENTS ARE YOUR ELDERLY OR DISABLED
INDIVIDUALS, AND THAT WE CAN CERTIFY THEM FOR 3 YEARS.
THAT MEANS THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE BENEFITS
UNLESS THERE WAS SOME DRASTIC CHANGE IN THEIR SITUATION
FOR 3 YEARS WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT COMING BACK,
LOSING THE BENEFIT FOR A SHORTER AMOUNT OF TIME.
SO THAT REALLY HELPS THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY'VE GOT THAT
RELIABLE BENEFIT COMING IN EVERY MONTH
THAT WILL KEEP THEM SECURE IN THEIR FOOD.
Calopietro: THE AARP FOUNDATION'S SNAP OUTREACH,
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
WE DO BOTH IN-PERSON OUTREACH, SO THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN
COME TO US AT LIBRARIES OR COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE ABLE
TO COME, BUT WE ALSO DO TELEPHONIC ASSISTANCE, SO YOU
CAN CALL A TOLL-FREE NUMBER.
WE COLLECT ALL THE DATA THAT'S REQUIRED FOR THE FORM,
POPULATE THAT DATA, AND SEND IT OUT TO YOU.
YOU REVIEW IT, YOUR SIGNATURE GOES ONTO IT,
YOU SUBMIT IT BACK TO US, AND WE SEND IT IN TO THE
APPLICATION ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR YOU.
AND SO THAT'S ONE WAY FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T COME TO AN OUTREACH
CLINIC, FOR EXAMPLE, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN
THE SAME KIND OF SERVICE THAT THOSE WHO ARE MOBILE CAN.
AND SO, I THINK, THINKING OF MORE WAYS TO REACH PEOPLE--
THROUGH TELEPHONE, THROUGH WEB--
WHO CAN'T GET AROUND IS IMPORTANT.
Black: MICHAEL, THAT REMINDS ME OF THE WEB SITE THAT WE'VE GOT
FOR THE AARP FOUNDATION, AND THAT'S WWW.AARP.ORG/QUICKLINK.
AND WHAT THAT DOES IS EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO GO ONLINE TO SEE WHAT
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE THEY MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR.
AND ONE WAY IS LOOKING AT SNAP,
ANOTHER IS LOOKING AT A GRANDPARENT RAISING GRANDCHILDREN,
WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS FOR VETERANS
AND SOME OTHER GROUPS OF WHAT OTHER ASSISTANCE
THEY MIGHT RECEIVE.
Briggs: IN ADDITION TO YOUR ACCESS TO THE SERVICES, THOUGH,
WE LITERALLY HAVE THAT PHYSICAL CHALLENGE OF BEING ABLE TO GET
TO A STORE, GET TO THE FARMERS MARKET, AND GET HOME WITH FOOD.
I HAVE THE LUXURY OF DRIVING MY CAR TO THE SUPERMARKET,