AARP Volunteer Helps Fill Bellies of the 50+

In Virginia nearly 16% of food bank visitors are 65 or older, according to the AARP Public Policy Institute, and nearly 6% of older Virginians are at risk of hunger.

While many people are saddened when they hear these statistics, AARP volunteer Wahed Hossaini decided to do something about it. Hossaini was able to collect $2,845 and a truck load of non-perishable food from the Bangladeshi-Americans community in the Washington, D.C. area at the end of Ramadan. The food and funds were donated to the ECHO Food Bank in Springfield, VA.

Hossaini has been volunteering at AARP for over 10 years and started his effort after learning about AARP’s Create the Good annual food drive. Over the past five years he has raised and donated over $10,000 and thousands of pounds of food.

To organize a local food drive, grow a community garden, or get other ideas about how you can help fight hunger in your community, visit Create the Good. http://www.createthegood.org/