The number of senior citizens in need of help putting food on the table locally is rising at an alarming rate.
Agencies served by the Food Bank of Western New Yorkare reporting drastic increases in seniors requesting support. Food Bank Public and Community Relations Director Mike Billoni says the number of senior citizens in need of food assistance in Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties has risen 53% over the last year to more than 13,000 seniors. He says those record setting numbers are due to cuts in the federal food stamp program.
"A number of our agencies are saying because of that (cuts in the federal food stamp program)... their dollars can't go any further," says Billoni, "For a lot of seniors, it's do I purchase medicine or do I get nutritional food."
Billoni adds the Food Bank's "Check Out Hunger Program" is fortunately heading toward a record year. So far, the program has raised nearly $760,000, but Billoni quickly adds more support is always needed. He says the Food Bank helps feed more than 116,000 people every month, that’s a 17-percent overall increase in clientele since 2013.
Billoni says they're able to get six meals out of every one dollar donation.
