For Giving Tuesday 2021, Provide fresh produce to in-need seniors!

We are excited to announce our 2021 Giving Tuesday Campaign: a fresh produce drive! We will be accepting donations of fresh produce at the Senior Center until Friday, December 3rd, and donations which will be used to source produce.

Fruits and vegetables are an essential part of a balanced diet, especially for seniors. The wide range of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients they contain support healthy aging; consuming sufficient amounts has been proven to decrease the risk of many age-related conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia.

Research shows that home-bound seniors don't get enough fruits or vegetables in their diets due to a lack of access, not a lack of information or desire; for many people, fresh produce is an expensive commodity. Additionally, these foods are even more expensive and harder to come by during our Alaskan winters, especially for seniors who tend to stay in. Although the Meals on Wheels program doesn't require that we include fresh fruits in vegetables in our meals, we understand how important they are for the seniors we serve, and strive to distribute them to our seniors as often as possible.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, our former source of fresh produce—the Fairbanks Community Food Bank—has seen a massive rise in demand for their services; as a result, we have chosen to source our fruits and vegetables independently, which is much more expensive. While we have always distributed produce as supplies allow, we hope to continue to offer a regular source of these essential nutrients.

Please join us in our mission to support homebound and in-need seniors in cultivating a healthy lifestyle.