"On a gray morning in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood, dozens of coat-bundled seniors make their way up the ramp behind a local food bank. Inside, some reach for ripe bunches of bananas and others fill large canvas totes with bright red apples. For many of these seniors, this ritual is a nutritional lifeline. Founded in 1982 by residents at the Mercy Retirement and Care Center, the Mercy Brown Bag Program is a nonprofit that distributes groceries to over 10,000 East Bay seniors every month."
"California's older adults, a group characterized as age 65 and older, experience some of the highest rates of poverty among all age groups in the state, at 21%, according to a September report from the California Budget and Policy Center. Mercy Brown Bag relies on a mix of funding sources, including Alameda County, which provides 67% of its budget, along with support from corporations, foundations, and individual donors."
Mercy Brown Bag was founded in 1982 by residents at the Mercy Retirement and Care Center and distributes groceries to over 10,000 East Bay seniors monthly. Dozens of seniors visit distribution sites to pick fresh produce and fill bags, and 85% of clients receive all or most of their groceries from the program. Mary Roberts volunteers weekly and leads the program. California residents age 65 and older face a 21% poverty rate. Mercy Brown Bag’s budget comes largely from Alameda County (67%), supplemented by corporations, foundations, and individual donors. The program seeks a $25,000 grant to fund groceries for thousands of seniors.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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