Canyon Laker’s donations purchase Helping Hands van

Canyon Lake-based Helping Hands, a non-profit organization that distributes food to seniors in need, has switched its model from delivering its food to a community and having the seniors walk to where the drop off is located, to one in which Helping Hands home delivers the groceries.

“This new style home delivery gives us a chance to speak with the seniors and sort of do a welfare check,” Helping Hands founder Robert Sasser said. “The van serves as a mobile pantry for delivering to more than 200 low-income seniors in Canyon Lake and surrounding cities. The demand for this type of delivery has taxed our equipment so much that the van needed to be replaced.”

Helping Hands sent out a request for donations to the local communities and Canyon Lakers overwhelmingly responded. In less than five weeks, the organization received the donations needed to purchase a late model one-ton cargo van.

“That van is exactly what we need to serve our Neighbors in Need,” Robert said. “Thank you, Canyon Lake, for being willing to reach out to help our neighboring cities.”

Robert said many people are not aware of a rising trend in the senior community called “Food Insecurity.” Although it affects many, it is most prevalent in senior communities. The average rent in Riverside County is $1,400 per month according to rent.com. The average Social Security benefits to seniors is $1,300 a month.

Many local seniors must choose between paying a utility bill or buying food.  Feeding America reports more than 34,000 seniors in Riverside County go without five or more meals a month.  Not knowing whether a person can put food on the table or not is “Food Insecurity.”

A system of food pantries has been set up across the county. Many churches also supplement that emergency food supply with food drives and distributions. Many of these food distribution systems in place have not adjusted to the COVID-19 crisis. A large number of seniors as well as the disabled seniors cannot or will not travel to get food and are relying on friends and family for assistance.