More On the Menu (MOM) ~ Fresh Produce for Homebound Seniors

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

Many older adults cannot afford fresh fruits and vegetables or they may not have easy access to them. The More On the Menu (MOM) program provides a weekly delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables to low-income older adults receiving home-delivered meals from contractors funded by the Older Americans Act. As a requirement of the program, eligible recipients are low-income, homebound and frail. Some 60 percent are reported to be at or below the federal poverty level. More than 60 percent are from ethnically diverse groups. The MOM program is administered by the County of San Diego Aging & Independence Services through a collaboration with nutrition subcontractors. The program is funded entirely by community donations; all donations are used solely for the purchase and delivery of the food. The MOM program provides more than 250 homebound seniors with a weekly delivery of 7-10 fruits and vegetables. Additionally, nutrition education materials are regularly included with the delivery to help recipients understand the link between healthy eating and successful aging. A majority of the recipients say the program is helping them meet their nutritional needs at a time in their lives when their financial resources are limited.