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Elderly
granted fresh fruit
Northern
Nevada’s low- income elderly residents can count on a regular supply of
fresh produce in their diets this summer. Through a $200,000 United States Department
of Agriculture grant, 6,700 elderly people in Reno, Sparks, Carson City
and rural areas will be eligible for $30 in coupons they can redeem at the
weekly farmers’ markets throughout the area. The program that runs July through September
is based on a pilot created last summer for 200 seniors in Carson City. “The seniors loved it,” said Janice
Ayres, 81, executive director for Nevada Rural Counties Retired and Senior
Volunteers Program, who assisted in writing the grant proposal. “We got so many letters,” she said.
“One lady wrote that it was the first time in 15 years she had fresh
produce, she’d just had canned commodities.” Residents 60 or older whose annual individual
income does not exceed $16,391 are eligible. They will receive a book of
10 coupons worth $3 each for use from July through September at farmers
markets in Carson City, Gardnerville, Fallon, Winnemucca, Hawthorne, Reno
and Sparks. “It’s amazing how much they can get for
$3 a week,” Ayres said. “We didn’t want to make it too small or too
large because a low-income senior on his or her own won’t want too much
at one time. “We will give applications to volunteers in
our Home Companion Program so we can sign up homebound seniors as well,”
she said. “Our volunteers will do the shopping for them. We got a lot of
cooperation from Reno and Sparks; we’re working to provide some
transportation for people.” Karen Grillo, director of agriculture
promotion and marketing for the Nevada Association of Counties, said she
was touched by the gratitude for the coupons. “It just gave you goose bumps,” she said.
“One letter from a Carson senior said, ‘Thanks to you, I was able to
enjoy fresh fruit this year as I can never afford it in the store. There
is never enough money left for such a luxury.’” Shirley Sponsler, president of the Nevada
Certified Farmers’ Market Association, said her members were delighted
to help. “A lot of people had not ever shopped at
the farmers’ markets because they didn’t think they could afford
it,” she said. “When my grandmother finally was at the point when she
was moved from her home to assisted living, the thing she missed more than
anything was fresh fruit and that’s what I used to bring her. “One of the other things about the market
is that it is a very social thing. For seniors in assisted living, coming
to the market is really a nice experience,” she said. Ayres said the seniors who participated in
last year’s program talked about how welcomed they were at the market. “A lady wrote that it was just so wonderful
to go and be treated so well,” Ayres said. “The vendors didn’t treat
it like welfare or food stamps, they were just so gracious. There wasn’t
that stigma attached. The farmers bring their things in and they don’t
care whether you have coupons or cash.” Applications will be available later this
month at area senior centers and through RSVP. The program was organized through the
Department of Administration, Department of Agriculture, Division for
Aging Services, Nevada Rural Counties RSVP and the Nevada Certified
Farmers’ Market Association. Summary: Northern Nevada’s low- income
elderly residents can count on a regular supply of fresh produce in their
diets this summer. Through a $200,000 United States Department of
Agriculture grant, 6,700 elderly people in Reno, Sparks, Carson City and
rural areas will be eligible for $30 in coupons they can redeem at the
weekly farmers’ markets throughout the area.
Copyright
© 2002 Global Action on Aging
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