Healthy Eating For Seniors

While strolling through one of Philadelphia’s culinary gems, Reading Terminal Market, you may take in the aroma of fresh food and endless conversation everywhere. If you were around during the 19th and 20th of July, you may have also taken note of the crowds of senior citizens lined up early from 7:30am to 2pm to obtain their fresh fruit and vegetable vouchers.

Sponsored by the Philadelphia Corporation of Aging (PCA) as part of its popular annual Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program to encourage more seniors to eat healthily; eligible low-income Philadelphia seniors received $20 vouchers to be used to purchase fresh produce at certified Farmers’ Markets in Philly. That first day, no less than six hundred senior citizens cycled in and out of the center food court area of Reading Terminal Market. PCDC would like to say, “Thank You!”, to our interns and volunteers at the event: Xiang Zheng, Dongni Zhang, Alexis Lin and Ben Chen. They served as translators to a large majority of the participants: senior citizens from the Chinatown community.

Other locations such as the On Lok Senior Citizen House also issued vouchers. These vouchers were possible with funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. More information about the program can be found at PCA at 215-765-9040