“Alive & Kicking!” 2nd Annual Dallas Senior Hunger Summit
Dallas Seniors are “Alive & Kicking!” at the 2nd Annual Senior Hunger Summit in May 2023
Once again, the Senior Hunger Action Team of the Dallas Coalition for Hunger Solutions came together to organize a Senior Hunger Summit during Older Americans Month in May. In the second year of what is becoming an annual occurrence, twice as many seniors participated with over 200 attendees! The event, “Alive & Kicking!”, brought stakeholders together with older adults to hear directly from older adults about their experiences with food access and food security, share resources and information to help them thrive, and provide them with socialization and enrichment.
Hosted by The State Fair of Texas at their Briscoe-Carpenter Livestock Center, the annual theme, “Alive & Kicking!”, or living your best life after age 60, was championed by the day’s guest speakers.
Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price and Director Phillip Huang, MD, Dallas County Health and Human Services, greeted participants to kick off the program. Kiley Parker brought tidings from TX-30 District Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.
Not one, but two recent winners of the Ms. Texas Senior America title, who live locally in north Texas, followed with encouraging and inspiring messages. Joyce Brown, who holds the 2019 distinction, shared about her journey after age 60 to a healthier and more fulfilling life. Then, she introduced Terre Quinn, MD, the reigning title holder in 2023, who provided a road map to aging well and healthy well-being for many years to come.
The program continued with a panel of service providers addressing the topic, “What We Do, How We Can Help You and How to Connect with Us”. Attendees heard about transportation, dementia, housing, employment, financial, and legal resources available to help them remain independent and thrive.
Panelists addressed specific questions submitted by the audience. Additionally, attendees learned about opportunities to advocate for their concerns and issues affecting older adults.
Information about healthy eating on a frugal budget, saving money at the grocery store and resources to supplement their food budget, particularly SNAP, followed in a demonstration of how “Eating Well is a SNAP!”
A Resource Fair provided an opportunity for vendors with programs and services for older adults to interact with participants and answer individual questions. Entertainment featuring a Tai chi performance and a musical selection, as well as lunch, door prizes and Bingo added liveliness and fun to a full day.
The Senior Hunger Action Team is grateful to sponsoring partners City of Dallas Office of Community Care, Dallas County Older Adult Services, National Council of Jewish Women-Greater Dallas, State Fair of Texas, The Senior Source, and Wellcare Health Care for their financial and in-kind support.
~Written and contributed to the blog by Wyonella Henderson-Greene, Coalition Specialist, Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty
