Tampa Bay Area “Dining Out at Home” Feeds Local Seniors’ Hunger and Their Souls

A collaboration resulting from the recently passed CARES Act has rapidly made its way to local levels in recent days. The collaboration: a “Dining Out at Home” program where organizations across communities are joining hands to increase assistance to homebound and hungry seniors. The idea also promises to be a win-win to help seniors and local restaurants dealing with the effects of the COVID19 pandemic.

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The Florida Department of Elder Affair’s 11 Area Agencies on Aging are working with a variety of organizations to help meet the growing demand of hungry, homebound seniors. For the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, their collaboration is with Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay to help administer the new program along with their nutrition providers, Neighborly Care Network in Pinellas County and Pasco County Senior Services whose volunteers and staff deliver the meals.

And while there’s always a steady need to feed the hungry living on a fixed income, that need has grown with ever widening delivery areas due to the need to physically distance.

“We’re starting from scratch with this program,” said Becky Mackenzie, director of program accountability at the AAA-PP. “With the extra funding, we’ll be able to partner with local restaurants to develop a standard monthly menu where the meals are balanced, nutritious and tasty.”

To help get things up and running, AAA-PP is capitalizing on their ongoing relationship with Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay, a volunteer organization where seniors help seniors.

Morgan Griffin, a new staff member at Seniors in Service, was recently brought aboard as the Dining Out at Home Coordinator after losing her job in the restaurant industry due to COVID19. Her new role includes assessing the applicant restaurants.

“We need help getting the word out to restaurants to apply and to people who need food,” said Griffin. “Even though we already have a list of clients by zip code, we know there are more hungry and homebound seniors and restaurants that can help them.”

For restaurant applicants, both teams at AAA-PP and Seniors in Service are looking for a good fit based on nutrition plan goals, production capacity and health code compliance. Homebound seniors seeking food deliveries need to apply and undergo an assessment in order to get enrolled.

“It’s a great way to get seniors who are isolated a nutritious meal,” said Mackenzie. “To me, all the new choices for seniors brings so much dignity back in the home and the dignity of making choices.”

“We’re really excited about this program with our local community partners who regularly help older adults live with purpose and dignity,” said Michelle Cyr, associate state director for advocacy and outreach in Tampa Bay. “This collaboration of agencies, non-profits and local businesses truly exemplifies the ‘it takes a village’ philosophy.”

Similar types of efforts are currently in the early phases of formation to be rolled out across the state. For Hillsborough, the Senior Connection Center in Tampa is also readying to launch their outreach efforts.

Restaurants or seniors in Pasco or Pinellas County seeking to register for the program click here details. To become a volunteer, visit Seniors in Service.