St. Paul’s PACE Partners with San Diego Food Bank to Expand Food Access for Seniors

San Diego, Calif. (September 6, 2024) – St. Paul’s PACE – Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly – has partnered with the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank to address food insecurity among PACE participants. The partnership was born from a collaboration between St. Paul’s PACE Dietary, Supportive Housing, and Social Work teams, who joined forces to coordinate additional food resources for low-income PACE participants lacking access to nutritious food.

During a routine Food Bank visit to restock the St. Paul’s PACE food pantry, PACE Diet Technician Myrna Flores Olachea teamed up with Supportive Housing Support Specialist Donna Alley to try something new. Together, they collected 600 pounds of fresh produce to deliver to PACE participants living at the Quality Inn and West Park apartments, St. Paul’s supportive housing partners. The food was distributed in less than one hour. One senior shared, “It’s always hard to afford food at the end of the month, especially with how expensive it is now. I’m usually scrounging at this time, so this helps a lot.”

 According to research conducted by the San Diego Hunger Coalition in March 2024, an estimated 172,000 older adults (age 60+) in San Diego County are unable to provide three nutritious meals per day for themselves and/or their families.

“Food insecurity profoundly affects seniors’ health and well-being beyond just hunger,” said Flores Olachea. “Having access to fresh fruits and vegetables can help prevent chronic diseases and even mitigate other health concerns such as depression.”

The success of their efforts led to the decision to implement a monthly delivery schedule. The teams will continue to visit the Food Bank during the last week of each month, when many seniors face shortages in CalFresh/EBT funds, to provide fresh produce and non-perishables to PACE participants living at the Quality Inn and West Park.

“The San Diego Food Bank is excited to welcome St. Paul’s PACE to our network of nonprofit partners, ensuring seniors who participate in PACE’s programs have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive,” said San Diego Food Bank CEO, Casey Castillo. “By working together, we’re not just addressing hunger; we’re nurturing the overall health and well-being of our entire community.”

St. Paul’s PACE is accepting donations of non-perishable food, toiletries, personal hygiene products, and clothing for its annual St. Paul’s Essential Needs Drive (SPEND). The initiative supports low-income PACE participants who struggle to afford items essential for daily living. Visit StPaulSeniors.org/SPEND for more ways to donate.

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St. Paul’s PACE supports seniors so they can continue to live independently at home by providing personalized medical services, social services, transportation, and home care. Seniors who are over 55 years years old with chronic medical conditions that make it difficult to live at home may qualify for services. For more information on St. Paul’s PACE,  visit StPaulsPACE.org or call 1(833) PACE NOW. Press contact:  Nicole Antonacci, St. Paul’s Senior Services Communications Specialist, 619-239-6900