FONTANA, Calif. – The Hope through Housing Foundation has been approved for a $15,000 grant by the Kaiser Foundation Hospitals-Fontana to provide fresh food and health screenings for more than 300 low-income seniors.
The funding will help support the Fresh Food Fontana program, which addresses the dire need of low-income seniors for healthy and consistent food availability. As part of the program, Hope through Housing and volunteers prepare a “dignity grocery store” each month serving four Fontana properties owned and managed by National Community Renaissance (National CORE), one of the nation’s largest nonprofit community builders.
“We’re very grateful for the ongoing support of the Kaiser Foundation to Fresh Food Fontana,” said Ciriaco “Cid” Pinedo, President of the Hope through Housing Foundation. “As a result of their generosity, 300 seniors will have access to fresh fruits and vegetables and be able to adopt healthier eating habits – one of the greatest challenges facing our aging population.”
Under the Fresh Food Fontana program, Old Grove Farm Share, a group of small local farmers, provides fresh produce. Seniors are able to select from a number of items each month and volunteers are on hand to offer tastings and recipes to help residents with their selections.
In 2014, to complement the Fresh Food Fontana program, Hope through Housing began a partnership with the California State University – San Bernardino’s Community Nursing Program to assess seniors for ailments stemming from poor nutrition, depression, isolation and medication mismanagement.
Seniors living in the four Fontana properties have average monthly incomes of $14,000. Many struggle to pay their reduced rent, purchase their required medicines, and manage day to day expenses.
“Like many seniors, they struggle to take care of their basic needs, and too often, their diets suffer. They’ll frequently choose cheaper food with less nutritional value, or even skip meals altogether,” said Steve PonTell, President and Chief Executive Officer of National CORE. “Programs such as Fresh Food Fontana are essential to allowing seniors to live independently and with dignity.”
About the Hope through Housing Foundation and National CORE
The Hope through Housing Foundation, based in Rancho Cucamonga, has provided more than 2 million hours in supportive services to enhance quality of life over the past two decades, including preschool, after-school, senior wellness and upward mobility programs. National Community Renaissance is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit developers of affordable housing. National CORE manages nearly 9,000 affordable, senior and market-rate units in California, Arkansas, Texas and Florida. For more information on both organizations, please visit www.nationalcore.org.