Senior Friendship Center handing out turkeys for Thanksgiving

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The Senior Friendship Center does weekly food distributions, but added turkeys to the menu for families who can’t afford the Thanksgiving centerpiece on Wednesday.

The center partnered with All Faiths Food Bank to hand out 120 turkeys to those in need, members of the center, and clients. 90 cars were lined up at the Senior Friendship Center in Venice from 6:30 in the morning before the distribution began at 7:45 am.

“It really shows that the community is here for everybody and that there’s hope and we’re not alone,” Candace Gay, a turkey recipient, said.

Across the country, more than nine million seniors could be food insecure by 2050, according to Feeding America’s research. Nearly seven million seniors were food insecure in 2022. Additionally, according to the USDA, many older adults lack sufficient food to lead a healthy and active life. Some seniors are struggling even more as they are trying to purchase food, not only for themselves, but for children and grandchildren as well. Not to mention these groups are trying to do this on a limited income.

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“It’s tremendous, the supplement that this provides us is terrific, the volunteers are great, they all make a happy day for us at the start, and we all thoroughly appreciate it,” Joyce Durbin, a turkey recipient, said.

“Just glad that we’re able to help so many people in so many different ways. Here at the Senior Friendship Center, food is a big part of what we do, serving nutritious meals, but the opportunity to provide somebody a good Thanksgiving is just so special,” Jon DeVries with the Senior Friendship Center said.

For seniors, issues like transportation to the grocery store or being unable to cook are other obstacles they have to face that the average person in the community doesn’t. For some seniors who live alone, this can be a dire issue. According to the American Health’s Ranking, nearly every low-income senior in Florida (91.8 per 100 adults age 60+) depends on SNAP.

The number of senior households below the ALICE threshold jumped from 48,600 in 2022 to more than 52,600 in 2023, an 8.2% increase. Since 2019, senior households below the ALICE threshold have increased by 42%.

SFC is all about ensuring seniors never have to go through anything alone. This event ensures that, despite the stress of SNAP benefits disruption and rising senior poverty, seniors and their families can enjoy the festive season together without worry.