LOS ANGELES, Calif., – During Older Americans month this May, the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank will tackle the growing demand of seniors in need of food assistance through the expansion of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) thanks to additional funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

At the end of 2009, the Foodbank served just fewer than 8,000 senior citizens per month through CSFP. With the increased funding that took effect at the beginning of 2010—the first expansion of CSFP in Los Angeles County in 5 years—the Foodbank is now serving almost 14,000 seniors per month and aims to reach 20,000 seniors per month before the end of June.

CSFP is a federally funded USDA program which provides eligible seniors with age-prescribed food kits each month. The program aims to improve the health of seniors by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA commodity foods, including staples such as canned meats, canned fruits and vegetables, dry milk, cheese, cereals, rice, peanut butter and juice. The Foodbank distributes the monthly CSFP food kits for seniors at 63 locations throughout the county.

"With thousands of LA County seniors struggling to afford food, the Foodbank has requested help to expand the program for several years," said Michael Flood, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. "Now with enough resources to reach 20,000 people, we are actively recruiting local senior centers and community organizations to serve as new distribution sites and to help us encourage eligible seniors to take advantage of this program."

To participate in the program, seniors must meet the following requirements:

• Must be at least 60 years of age
• Must provide photo identification (e.g. driver's license, ID card, passport, out of country/state/county ID card, US resident card, etc.)
• Must prove low-income status by providing a copy of a social security check, SSI check, bank statement, employment check stub, benefit award letter or MEDI-CAL card

Charitable organizations or individuals interested in participating in CSFP should contact the Foodbank's Delivery Programs staff at: (323) 234-3030 X 170 or visit www.lafoodbank.org.

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