Senior Services of Alexandria Adds Commodity Supplemental Food and Friendly Caller Programs

Alexandria, VA – Senior Services of Alexandria (SSA) is adding two innovative programs to help combat food insecurity and isolation among Alexandria’s older adult population. Recently, SSA   partnered with the nonprofit ALIVE! and the Capital Area Food Bank to help administer and deliver boxes of food through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).

This partnership will allow SSA to provide much-needed nutrition assistance by filling in the gaps not covered by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“Ensuring that seniors have the nutritious food they need is a critical part of our mission, and we’re proud to be working with SSA and ALIVE! to reach more of our neighbors in Northern Virginia,” said Michelle Larson, Senior Manager of Senior Hunger Strategies at the Capital Area Food Bank. “By working together, we’re able to provide healthy groceries to older adults, right at their doorsteps, so they can access the food needed to stay strong and active.”

This initiative helps to improve the health of low-income people who are 60 years and older by supplementing their diets with nutritious US Department of Agriculture foods. SSA has targeted low-income high-rise buildings as well as existing clients facing food insecurity due to rising food costs and those lacking access to traditional food banks and other resources due to mobility challenges.

Clients will receive a monthly delivery with support from SSA volunteers and community partners. Our goal is to deliver to more than 100 clients by the end of the year.

The Friendly Caller Program is an outgrowth of the Friendly Visitor Program. This program brings warmth, connection, and daily reassurance to older adults across Alexandria through the simple act of a phone call. Designed for residents aged 60 and older who live alone or face limited social interaction, the program pairs seniors with carefully trained volunteers for regular conversations that nurture emotional well-being and help reduce isolation. Participants choose how often they want to receive calls—ranging from daily to weekly—within the hours of 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., seven days a week. Each call provides either a brief well-being check or a longer, friendly chat that fosters companionship and trust. There are no income restrictions, fees, or complicated forms, making enrollment quick and accessible. This is a very flexible volunteer opportunity to bring social activity to isolated seniors.

If you are interested in volunteering to deliver the boxes of food or know of someone who could benefit from the Supplemental Food program, contact Marshall Hespe at [email protected] or call 703-836-4414, ext. 112.

If you would like to be a friendly caller or know someone who would benefit from the program, contact Tanya Edwards at [email protected] or call
703-836-4414, ext. 120.

Thank you for making a difference in a senior’s life.