Officials Say Food Insecurity Is A Growing Problem For Seniors And Disabled

The Urban League of Winston-Salem has received funding from the National Council on Aging to enroll 500 people in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP by the end of April.

Enrollees must be age 60 or older, or be a person with a disability, with an income below $22,800 a year to qualify.

Local officials say health challenges, transportation and other issues can keep some people from applying for SNAP benefits.

“It's a long application that asks a lot of questions and some people are cautious about submitting this information to the government," says James Perry, CEO of the Winston-Salem Urban League. "We're walking people through the process over the phone. If they meet the requirements, they can qualify on average for $113 per month to help deal with food shortages. We're trying to create awareness and address this growing hunger problem in our community”

Kernersville resident Glen Arvey, 65, is an Air Force veteran. He's a SNAP beneficiary and says it helps.  

“My pride kept me from applying at first,” says Arvey. “It's helping with the food that I'm choosing. I'm getting a better variety and I'm also getting more fruits and vegetables than I have been getting in the past. In fact, it's helping me lose weight, which my doctors wanted me to do.”

North Carolina is among the top ten states with the highest rates of senior food insecurity.

The Urban League is holding an enrollment event Friday, March 4, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Hanes Hosiery Recreation Center in Winston-Salem.

*You can follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @ kerib_news