NERA Helps Supply Senior Citizens With Nutritious Food

Qualified seniors in the Ponca City area can receive monthly boxes of nutritious food to supplement their diet through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). The free program, a partnership of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, provides boxes of food items through New Emergency Resource Agency Food & Resource Center (NERA).

Once a month, qualified seniors will receive a box of 16-20 home pantry staples, such as: pasta, canned meats, canned fruits and vegetables, cheese, shelf-stable milk, fruit juice and cereal.

“Hunger has a serious impact on the health of seniors. It can increase complications of existing health conditions and limit the efficiency of prescription drugs,” said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. “We urge all qualified seniors to take advantage of this free program and supplement their diet with high quality, nutritious food.”

To qualify, seniors must meet income requirements, be at least 60 years of age, have a valid ID and live in NERA’s service area. NERA serves residents in the following zip codes: 74601, 74604, 74641, 74653, 74631, 74632, 74647, 74644, 74651, 74633, 74652. The service area includes the majority of Kay County, excluding any area west of I-35.

NERA also serves the Osage County communities of Burbank and Shidler.

Visit rfbo.org/CSFP  to find a listing of CSFP locations across central and western Oklahoma

Income requirements are based on 130% of the U.S. Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. For a one-person household, recipients must not earn more than $17,677 annually or $1,473 per month. For a two-person household, recipients must not make more than $23,803 annually or $1,984 per month. For more information on how to apply for CSFP, please call the Regional Food Bank partner listed below.

New Emergency Resource Agency Food & Resource Center
112 S. 1 Street
Ponca City, OK 74601
580-765-5372

CSFP is a federal program in which the U.S. Department of Agriculture purchases food in bulk from the nation’s farmers, that food is packaged and made available to state agencies. The agencies then provide the food to local organizations, like the Regional Food Bank, who then distribute the food to community-based partners like food pantries that directly serve the public.

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is leading the fight against hunger in 53 counties in central and western Oklahoma and envisions a state where no one goes hungry. Founded in 1980, the Regional Food Bank is the state’s largest domestic hunger-relief 501(c)(3) nonprofit that distributes food through a network of community- based partner agencies and schools. The majority of people served by the Regional Food Bank are chronically hungry children, seniors living on fixed incomes and hardworking families struggling to make ends meet. The Regional Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s network of food banks. To join the fight to end hunger, visit rfbo.org