MorseLife Home Care is tackling the issue of hunger among the elderly of Palm Beach County head-on.  A new initiative called the “Breakfast and Lunch Program” recently launched by the agency will provide non-perishable food items to needy Jewish seniors to supplement their groceries.
Keith Myers, president and CEO of MorseLife Health System, noted that the program, an idea of volunteer Vicki Loring of West Palm Beach, is targeted to financially-eligible Jewish seniors already receiving home care services such as Meals-on-Wheels from MorseLife Home Care.  “There are more and more seniors living at or below the poverty level and we are therefore pleased to be able to fill this service gap in helping to reduce the risk of hunger among this growing population,” he said.  “We are grateful to Vicki and other generous community members who are equally passionate about this issue.”
Vicki Loring has been active in various initiatives in Boston and south Florida fighting hunger and poverty among seniors and for the past 17 years, she has chaired MorseLife’s Jewish Response to Hunger, a luncheon program that provides meals and socialization to needy, isolated seniors over the holidays of Thanksgiving and Purim.
“One of the most critical issues facing our most vulnerable seniors is hunger and we are fortunate that there are many philanthropic community members who share in our commitment to this cause,” she said.  “With their support, we look forward to expanding the Breakfast and Lunch Program to serve even more need seniors.”
Dr. Alan Sadowsky, Senior Vice President of Home and Community-Based Services for MorseLife Health System, said that while there is great wealth and prosperity in Palm Beach County, there are many seniors who are just struggling daily to keep food on their plates.  “Through this program, we can help to ensure that our most vulnerable seniors have enough supplemental nutritious and healthy foods to reduce the possibility of them going hungry,” he said.
Dr. Sadowsky noted that Mrs. Loring and other volunteers gather every other week at MorseLife to package non-perishables, such as crackers, peanut butter and jelly, packaged milk, canned fruits and juices, salmon and tuna, and cereal to deliver to Jewish seniors eligible for this program.  “These are nutritious items that keep their pantries and stomachs full when they need them,” he said.  “Many of our recipients receive subsidized meals-on-wheels two or three days weekly, so the items we deliver supplement what they receive for the rest of the week.”
MorseLife Home Care is the home and community-based service division of MorseLife Health System, the nonprofit senior care organization in West Palm Beach.  It specifically helps people to age in place with maximum independence and dignity.
To donate, or to be considered a recipient for the Breakfast and Lunch Program, call Linda Sevich at (561) 687-5791.