Food and Nutrition Resources for Low-Income Seniors

Below is a curated list of over 30 national non-profit agencies and directories that focus on providing food resources for low-income seniors across the United States. Each organization plays a critical role in improving senior nutrition, reducing hunger, and offering accessible support services. The list is organized alphabetically for easy reference, with agency names linked to their websites and concise 50-word descriptions of their missions or services.

AARP Foundation – aarpfoundation.org
AARP Foundation works to end senior poverty by helping vulnerable older adults build economic opportunity and social connectedness. Their hunger programs include meal delivery, SNAP enrollment assistance, and innovative food security initiatives targeting seniors who struggle with access to adequate nutrition.

Alliance to End Hunger – alliancetoendhunger.org
The Alliance to End Hunger brings together diverse organizations to build the public and political will to end hunger at home and abroad. Their domestic initiatives often focus on vulnerable groups, including seniors, promoting better access to food programs and anti-hunger advocacy.

America’s Second Harvest (now Feeding America) – feedingamerica.org
Feeding America is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, connecting people with food through a nationwide network of food banks and meal programs. Their senior hunger initiatives include targeted programs like Senior Grocery Boxes and partnerships to support nutrition for older adults.

BenefitsCheckUp (by NCOA) – benefitscheckup.org
Managed by the National Council on Aging (NCOA), BenefitsCheckUp is a comprehensive online tool connecting older adults to benefits programs, including food assistance like SNAP and local meal services, helping seniors access resources that promote health and financial security.

Bread for the World – bread.org
Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging decision-makers to end hunger at home and abroad. Through advocacy and policy change, Bread for the World works to ensure seniors and other vulnerable populations have access to sufficient, nutritious food.

Catholic Charities USA – catholiccharitiesusa.org
Catholic Charities USA is one of the largest networks providing social services, including food assistance, to people of all ages. Their programs for seniors often include meal delivery, congregate meals, and SNAP enrollment support through local Catholic Charities affiliates.

Center for Nutrition Advocacy (Nutrition Advocacy) – nutritionadvocacy.org
The Center for Nutrition Advocacy champions policy initiatives and public education to ensure access to essential nutrition care services. While not exclusively for seniors, their efforts to expand access to medical nutrition therapy benefit many low-income elderly individuals managing chronic health conditions.

Community Action Partnership – communityactionpartnership.com
The Community Action Partnership supports a national network of Community Action Agencies that often deliver food assistance programs, such as senior meal deliveries, food pantries, and SNAP outreach, aimed at reducing poverty and food insecurity among seniors and other vulnerable groups.

ElderCare Locator – eldercare.acl.gov
Funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Eldercare Locator is a nationwide directory connecting older adults and caregivers with trusted local resources, including food programs like Meals on Wheels, congregate meals, and nutritional assistance tailored to senior needs.

End Hunger Network – endhunger.org
End Hunger Network focuses on raising awareness and creating community-driven solutions to hunger, including partnerships with senior-serving organizations to distribute nutritious foods and promote access to federal nutrition assistance programs for older Americans.

Feeding America – feedingamerica.org
Feeding America is the leading national hunger-relief organization, operating a network of food banks that directly support seniors through targeted programs like Senior Grocery Boxes and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for older low-income adults.

Feeding Seniors (Feeding America Program) – feedingamerica.org
A program within Feeding America, Feeding Seniors focuses specifically on fighting senior hunger through tailored food programs, grocery box deliveries, mobile food pantries, and SNAP outreach to address the nutritional needs of vulnerable older populations.

Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) – frac.org
FRAC is a leading nonprofit focused on eradicating hunger through research, policy advocacy, and program support. Their efforts include expanding senior participation in SNAP, advocating for stronger senior meal programs, and ensuring federal nutrition programs are accessible to older adults.

FoodPantries.org – foodpantries.org
FoodPantries.org is an online directory that lists food pantries, soup kitchens, and food banks across the United States, many of which offer senior-specific services. Seniors can search for nearby free meal programs and grocery assistance resources.

Generations United – gu.org
Generations United advocates for programs that support intergenerational well-being, including food security initiatives that help low-income seniors. Their collaborations often promote community meal programs and nutrition supports shared between older adults and younger family members.

Good Shepherd Food Bank – gsfb.org
Good Shepherd Food Bank, Maine’s largest hunger relief organization, offers specialized senior hunger programs like the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Their innovative models are often shared nationally to inspire better senior nutrition initiatives elsewhere.

Hunger Free America – hungerfreeamerica.org
Hunger Free America is a national direct service and advocacy organization working to end domestic hunger. Their senior hunger initiatives include SNAP enrollment, meal delivery service partnerships, and systemic advocacy to ensure elderly individuals have stable access to healthy food.

Meals on Wheels America – mealsonwheelsamerica.org
Meals on Wheels America supports community-based programs that deliver nutritious meals, friendly visits, and safety checks to homebound seniors. Their nationwide network is crucial to reducing senior hunger and isolation, with millions of meals delivered each year.

National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) – nanasp.org
NANASP advocates for policies and practices that support senior nutrition services, including congregate dining programs and home-delivered meals. They work to strengthen the nation’s capacity to meet the nutrition needs of older adults through leadership, education, and policy change.

National Council on Aging (NCOA) – ncoa.org
NCOA is a respected advocacy organization helping older Americans meet the challenges of aging. Their initiatives include supporting access to SNAP, senior nutrition programs, and developing tools like BenefitsCheckUp to connect seniors with vital food resources.

National Foundation to End Senior Hunger (NFESH) – nfesh.org
NFESH focuses exclusively on researching and developing solutions to senior hunger. Through data-driven reports, public education, and partnership programs, they work to eliminate barriers that prevent low-income seniors from accessing nutritious food.

National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging – nutritionandaging.org
The National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging provides tools, training, and technical assistance for senior nutrition programs across the U.S., supporting the delivery of meals, nutrition counseling, and advocacy for elderly populations at risk of food insecurity.

Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs – acl.gov/programs/health-wellness/nutrition-services
Managed by the Administration for Community Living, these programs fund congregate and home-delivered meal services for seniors, ensuring access to adequate nutrition while promoting social engagement and independent living for older adults.

Project Angel Heart – projectangelheart.org
Project Angel Heart prepares and delivers medically tailored meals to seriously ill individuals, including many low-income seniors, ensuring that nutritional needs are met to support better health outcomes and improve quality of life.

Senior Food Box Program (CSFP) – fns.usda.gov/csfp
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) provides monthly food packages to low-income seniors aged 60 and older. Managed by the USDA, it helps improve the health and nutrition of older Americans with consistent access to nourishing foods.

Share Our Strength – No Kid Hungry (also Seniors Advocacy) – nokidhungry.org
While best known for child hunger initiatives, Share Our Strength also supports efforts to fight senior hunger through partnerships and advocacy campaigns, recognizing the importance of food security across the full lifespan.

Society of St. Andrew – endhunger.org
The Society of St. Andrew salvages fresh produce from farms and redistributes it to food banks, soup kitchens, and senior centers nationwide, providing low-income seniors with access to fresh fruits and vegetables that they might not otherwise afford.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for Seniors – fns.usda.gov/snap
Administered by the USDA, SNAP provides financial assistance for purchasing food. Many nonprofit organizations and local agencies offer outreach programs specifically to help seniors access SNAP benefits and navigate the application process.

The Salvation Army – salvationarmyusa.org
The Salvation Army operates a wide range of programs, including food pantries, senior meal services, and emergency food distribution, helping low-income older adults access nutritious meals and groceries during times of need.

Volunteers of America – voa.org
Volunteers of America supports vulnerable populations through a variety of programs, including senior nutrition services like meal delivery, food pantries, and congregate dining. They aim to promote dignity, health, and independence for older adults nationwide.

WhyHunger – whyhunger.org
WhyHunger advances innovative community-based solutions to hunger and poverty. They connect people with nutritious food sources and support grassroots organizations fighting senior hunger through their Find Food database and advocacy initiatives.