Our Goal
Increase access to healthy food to reduce food insecurity of older adults in Southeast Michigan through coordinated service delivery and during emergencies.
The Michigan Health Endowment Fund (The Health Fund) awarded the Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) a two-year $100,000 planning grant in 2020 to bring together nutrition service providers, food pantries, and other partners in Southeast Michigan to better coordinate and improve the delivery of nutrition and health services for older adults during regular operations, natural disasters and other emergencies. The result was the establishment of the Coordinated Food Delivery Services Consortium, consisting of community-based organizations that worked together to create a systemic approach to expand the availability of healthy food for older adults age sixty-plus.
Given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Fund sought strategies to break down silos, coordinate food distribution, and increase nutrition education. The intent was to also make coordinated emergency responses more agile, intentional, and effective, while improving the overall well-being of older adults and reducing food insecurity. The Detroit Food Policy Council served as Facilitator for this initiative. This grant period was from October 1, 2020, through September 30, 2022, though the project was extended for four months to pilot Emergency Preparedness Trainings with community organizations.
Detroit Area Agency on Aging-1A
Consortium Partners
Area Agency on Aging-1B
American Red Cross – SE MI
Detroit Food Policy Council
Detroit Homeland Security
Eastern Market
Focus Hope
Forgotten Harvest
Gleaners Community Food Bank
Interfaith Health & Hope Coalition
MI Public Health Institute
The Senior Alliance, AAA-1C
Wayne County Senior Services
United Way Southeast Michigan
Consortium Partner Summit I & II
As a part of our planned activities, the Detroit Area Agency on Aging hosted two Summits with Consortium partners in 2022. During our June Summit, a roundtable dialog helped us shape our final recommendations and resources for the Coordinated Food Delivery Services Consortium’s final report and toolkit. During the September Summit, the goals, accomplishments, and recommendations of the Coordinated Food Delivery Consortium were presented.
Resource Guides and Emergency Response Posters
Over 40,000 Resource Guides and Emergency Response Posters
were published and printed for distribution to older adults in Southeast Michigan. Emergency Preparedness Trainings in partnership with the American Red Cross are available for Community agencies serving older adults. This program is for seniors and does not provide certifications for organizations.
