Seniors — SSIP Food Closet

We Are Here For Seniors

SSIP Offers Another Food Program for Seniors — The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

The Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services offers this food program for seniors. It is an additional program available to low-income seniors above and beyond our normal food distribution. Eligible participants will receive a box of groceries each month. Distribution of the food for seniors is the 4th Monday of each month at the south parking lot of the Bethany campus.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible, you must be at least 60 years of age and meet the income guidelines.

  
    
      2022 Income Guidelines
    

      Family Size
      Annual
      Monthly
      Weekly
    

      1
      $17,667
      $1,473
      $340
    

      2
      $23,803
      $1,984
      $458
    

      3
      $29,939
      $2,495
      $576
    

      4
      $36,075
      $3,007
      $694
    

      Additional Members
      $6,136
      $512
      $118
    

What type of groceries will I receive?

Groceries are pre-packed in boxes and include a variety of foods such as milk, cereal, grains, cheese, juice, canned meat, peanut butter, canned vegetables and canned fruit. Participants receive approximately 30 pounds of food per month.

I am interested, what do I need to sign up?

To sign up for Food for Seniors (Commodity Supplemental Food Program - CSFP), please bring the following documents to one of our distribution sites and complete a short application.

Proof of identity and age (examples include): CA Driver’s License, ID card, OR passport.
Address verification: Identification with current address OR any bill with your name and current address.

Meet Lisa

Lisa Richards and friend are a friendly presence at the Food Closet!

Lisa Richards is a retired nurse who lives in a senior community not too far from the Food Closet. She rides the bus with her handy little cart to carry food home. She likes to be up early and usually is the first or second person in line when the Food Closet opens. She enjoys soaking up the sunshine while she waits.

Many people in her retirement community are alone, without families to help them. Lisa discovered recently that one neighbor, whom she had not seen for a while, was staying home because there was nothing to eat. Lisa was able to help.

She routinely brings little treats (or healthy treats for the diabetics among them) to fellow retirees at her complex using food she receives from the Food Closet. Sometimes she will even cook for residents, although COVID-19 has stopped community get-togethers in their common room.

Lisa praised the quality of the food, the friendly atmosphere, and efficiency of the Food Closet operations. She noted we are close by and it’s easy to get food because we have good hours and great volunteers.

When asked how we could improve, she said that we should put out a suggestion box so people can leave notes. Lisa says the notes will all be about what a good job the Food Closet is doing!