At Emergency Food Network (EFN), we believe growing older should come with stability, comfort, and dignity—not the stress of wondering where the next meal will come from.

Every month, EFN helps ensure older adults in Pierce County have access to nutritious food through programs designed specifically to support seniors, including the USDA Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Through CSFP, adults ages 60 and older receive monthly food boxes filled with nutritious, shelf-stable foods carefully selected to support healthy aging.

EFN intentionally purchases food items for these boxes with seniors’ health needs in mind. Whenever possible, we prioritize foods that are lower in sodium and sugar while still providing important nutrients. For many older adults managing chronic health conditions, access to healthier food options can make a meaningful difference in their overall health and quality of life.

Through partnerships with four community organizations, EFN distributes CSFP boxes throughout Pierce County. EFN also delivers directly to the homes of more than 100 seniors each month, ensuring that transportation challenges, mobility limitations, or other barriers do not prevent older adults from receiving the food they need.

But CSFP is about more than a box of food. It is about connection, compassion, and helping seniors feel supported.

EFN’s Programs Administrative Coordinator, Janet Garbino, goes far beyond simply enrolling participants and distributing food. She takes the time to understand each person’s unique situation and works to remove barriers that may prevent them from accessing the program.

For seniors who have transportation challenges, Janet will bring application forms directly to their homes and help them through the process. If a participant is unable to carry an entire food box, she encourages them to carry items in one can at a time so they can still benefit from the program. She listens to concerns, answers questions, and when appropriate, connects seniors with additional community resources that may help meet other needs.

“Speaking directly with participants has been incredibly valuable,” says Janet. “Many are deeply grateful for the support this program provides. Even when there were food items they couldn’t use, they often shared them with others and ‘paid it forward,’ reflecting a remarkable sense of community.”

Janet’s work reflects what we see throughout EFN: food assistance is not just about food. It is about dignity, independence, and making sure people know they are not alone.

EFN’s CSFP program is one piece of a larger network of support available to older adults across Pierce County. Through EFN’s network of more than 75 food pantries, shelters, and meal sites, seniors can also access fresh produce, proteins, and additional resources to help stretch limited budgets.

For homebound seniors, EFN’s Home Delivery Program brings groceries directly to their doors while providing a consistent point of connection through volunteer drivers.

“A lot of the recipients of EFN’s Home Delivery Program don’t get much contact other than people who come to the door, like us or the mail carrier,” says volunteer driver Stuart Monroe. “They need that connection. I’ve got the time to stop, listen to a story, and spend a few minutes with people.”