Go Green for Seniors Stories

 Mary, a 86 year old woman, has been attending the Green Bag program for over 6 years. During the COVID -19 pandemic Mary would stay home more and limit visits with her kids and grandchildren. She mentioned that it felt a little isolating during that time, but she did her best to stay busy. Since Mary was going to the store less and cooking less during the COVID-19 pandemic, her children decided to bring her homemade meals. Mary mentioned that the Green Bag program has changed her life by showing her how to eat better and she learns something new every time she comes to the distribution. 
 
Cathy is a 78 year old participant of the Green Bag Program. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cathy has emotionally felt very sad for the people affected by this disease and her friends she knows from the Oakdale Senior Center. Her eating habits have changed a little since the pandemic, due to her not wanting to frequent the grocery store multiple times a week. She has continued to use the fruits and vegetables provided by the Green Bag Program to make healthy meals during these uncertain times. She mentioned that she loves all the fruits and vegetables she receives and uses them when fixing dinner or when she makes breakfast. Cathy helps out at the Senior Meals Program at the Oakdale Senior Center and knows how important eating fruits and vegetables is for her health and the health of all older adults. 
 


​Vicky, a 77 year old participant of the ‘Go Green for Seniors’ Green Bag Program has benefited greatly from the fruits and vegetables she gets each month. She uses everything she receives at the Green Bag Program, whether she eats the fruits or vegetables raw or dehydrates them, to put in soups or other dishes she cooks because she doesn't like to let things go to waste. Vicky also has a garden at her home with a large variety of fruits and vegetables which she said complement the items she receives perfectly.



​Glenora, a 69 year old woman, has been a faithful participant to the ‘Go Green for Seniors’ Green Bag Program. She receives less than $20 a month from food stamps and found it difficult to purchase fruits and vegetables with the little money she has left after paying her bills. Glenora watches her grandchildren everyday and has to rely on the bus for transportation which adds some challenges to getting to Green Bag every month. Receiving a 10 pound bag of fruits and vegetables every month from Green Bag has helped her tremendously.
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​When Emilia (70) moved to Ralston Tower she saw people gathering in the dining room for “Green Bag” and decided to see what the program had to offer in food assistance. Emilia mentioned, “I have bought fruits and vegetables in the past, but I enjoy when we get different vegetables like eggplant from Green Bag”. After coming to Green Bag Emilia said, “I now eat healthier snacks and keep my diabetes in mind when I make meals. I feel it when I eat too much sugar, so I try to eat more fruits and vegetables that are good for me”.


​Donna (76) experiences challenges with transportation from time to time making it difficult to go grocery shopping at her convenience. She mentioned, “Getting fruits and vegetables from the Green Bag Program has been a big help. Since I began the Green Bag Program I cook to avoid spoilage of vegetables, especially the celery, onion and carrots I usually buy”.  Donna also said, “Green Bag has probably helped me eat more fruits and vegetables. It has also given me something to look forward to every third week of the month since I make reminder calls and pick up my bag”.


​Carol (71) began attending the Green Bag distribution at Ralston Tower with her dog 2 years ago after she retired. Knowing that she needed to eat more fruits and vegetables in her diet, she would purchase fruits and vegetables once a week. Since joining the Green Bag program Carol has learned new ways to spend less money when shopping at the grocery store and continue to cook healthy meals.  She mentioned how the lessons at the Green Bag distribution have helped improve her eating habits and she now feels that she eats better and makes healthier food choices since she joined.
Louis (81) found out about the Green Bag Program from some friends at the Young at Heart class he has attended for over 3 years ago. After Louis retired from his job, he was in need of fruits and vegetables in his diet. 
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 Louis said, “Having more fruits and veggies makes me have a better diet and the information we receive is really good”.

 He also stated after learning more about the importance of daily exercise, “I want to get more regular at attending the Young at Heart exercise”. Through eating right and exercising more regularly the future will be bright for Louis and all the lives he touches through his outgoing personality and interest in learning more.
Magdalen (78) was told about the Green Bag Program at the Tai Chi class she attended with her sister, Sui (82), at the Modesto Senior Center. After her car was totaled in an accident she was not able to drive to the Tai Chi class with her sister or run errands as easily, such as, going to the grocery store.  She began to have to rely on her son and the bus to get where she needed to go. She wanted to continue attending Green Bag because she knew it was important to eat fruits and vegetables, but being without a car made it a challenge.  Magdalen mentioned, “It is not easy to get fresh food and I like to eat a lot of veggies”.
Magdalen and Sui have attended Green Bag now for 6 years and said, “We enjoy the presentations about good food choices and different recipes to try at home”. While they may start their day out earlier, due to the bus schedule, on Green Bag days to get to the First United Methodist Church in Modesto, they are excited by the variety of fruits and vegetables they get to take home.
Magdalen and Sui feel welcomed each time they arrive on Green bag day and said, “We are grateful for the help in receiving more fruits and vegetables to make the meals we enjoy at home”.


Mark (65) began attending the Green Bag distribution at Ralston Tower when he started receiving social security income. Before joining the Green Bag program Mark mentioned, “I did not purchase fresh fruits and vegetables very often because I was on a fixed income”.

After attending Green Bag for 10 months Mark mentioned that he now makes healthier choices for food and has made better eating habits overall.
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The Green Bag lessons have taught Mark how to make better decisions about eating fruits and vegetables and it has changed his life.
​Sandy (78) was reading the “Healthy Aging Today” newsletter over 2 years ago when she came across an article about the Green Bag program.  After retiring, Sandy soon realized that the financial support she was getting, from Social Security and her pension, was not enough to support her diet. Sandy began gardening and growing her own vegetables to compensate for the fresh fruits and vegetables she was not able to buy at the grocery store.
At her first Green Bag distribution, at the First United Methodist Church in Modesto, she was glad to see people she knew. Sandy appreciated not only the fruits and vegetables she received, but also the lessons being taught. Sandy said her life is better because of the Green Bag program because, “I have better nutrition and the gardening tips are helpful when growing my own food”. With the help of the gardening tips Sandy has raised her gardening boxes to be easily accessible and she has begun growing onions, berries, and asparagus.
Sandy is appreciative of all the fruits and vegetables she receives and is positive about her future with the Green Bag program mentioning, “It’s nice to know others care about you and to know that I’m not alone”. 
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​“When my husband retired from work we knew money would begin to feel tight, but we reminded each other that we did not want to use our money to buy junk food”, Linda (66) said.  The Green Bag Program was the answer they were looking for to learn ways to eat healthier.
 
The very first time Linda went to a Green Bag distribution was in 2015, she mentioned, “I felt very welcomed and I had fun attending the presentation”.
 
About two years later and Linda still attends the Green Bag distribution at the First United Methodist Church located in Downtown Modesto. She said she feels very hopeful about her future with the Green Bag program, “I enjoy the food tips and presentation at the distributions and now I look for better bargains and read food labels when I am purchasing food at the store”. 
Stephen (64) noticed a decrease in supportive resources and has been very involved in the county as a peer-volunteer. Stephen found out about the Green Bag program through the Area Agency on Aging with who he volunteers for.
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He described his first Green Bag distribution as being comfortable. He said that the program is supportive and informative.
Stephen has been in the program for 2 years now. When asked how is his life different because of the program he stated, “[I have] an increased sense of social support in Stanislaus County…the program supports optimism”.


​Anna (60) has been attending the ‘Go Green for Seniors’ Green Bag Program for over a year. Anna wrote that she came to the program because “[I’m] handicapped with low income and this program definitely aids in my dietary needs”.
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Since attending the program, she feels different about the importance of fruits and vegetables than ever before. She feels like the future will be good because of this program.



​Evangelina (52) joined the program two years ago because she didn’t have the money to buy fruits and vegetables. She stated, “Fruits and vegetables are too expensive for me to buy living on a $800.00 disability check every month”.
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Because of the Green Bag Program, she can now eat fruits and vegetables again. She hopes the program continues because it helps her so much.
Javier (60) had attended a health fair in the Modesto area where he had learned how to prevent falls when he also heard about the benefits to eating healthier in order to decrease health problems and wanted to learn more about a program he had heard about called “Green Bag”.
The first time Javier went to the Green Bag distribution was in 2015.  He was happy to have come and learn how much the Healthy Aging Association cares about older adults and wants to provide them with education to have a healthier lifestyle.
Almost two years later and Javier continues to attend the Green Bag distribution at First United Methodist Church located in Downtown Modesto. He said, “I have always liked fruits and vegetables and this is another way I can receive them free of charge”. Javier is excited about his future in participating in the Green Bag Program and learning more about eating healthy and hopefully visiting his doctor less because he is in good health.


​Elta (85) heard about “Go Green for Seniors” Green Bag Program because she lives in the Senior Apartments right next to the Gladys L. Lemmons Senior Center in Oakdale. Elta has been attending the Green Bag Program for over two years and enjoys the physical activity and nutrition presentations that are before the fresh fruit and vegetable distribution. She loves to share the fresh fruit and vegetables with her neighbors at the senior apartment complex. The nutrition information has helped Elta understand the need to be active and to make good nutritional choices. The Green Bag Program is a program that Elta looks forward to every month.


Deborah (65) heard about Green Bag from a friend. She felt “old and alone” and that is why she decided to try out the program.
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The program offers her so much information on fruits, vegetables, calcium, MyPlate, and so much more. Because of Green Bag she has tried new vegetables that she has never tried before and allows her to have a variety of fruits and vegetables in her home. Overall Deborah wrote, “I look forward each month that Green Bag comes here.”
Pauline (Right) first heard about the program two years ago through the Ceres Commodities Program and knew she was lacking fruits and vegetables from her diet.
Pauline said she is shy, but at her first Green Bag presentation she said, “the coordinators were friendly and welcoming.” She loves learning so much about nutrition and encouraged her friend Nancy to join the program.
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Nancy (Left) decided that since her husband has been unemployed for four years, as soon as she turned 60 she came with her friend to the program.
Nancy finds the presentations very interesting and informative. Her and her husband are eating better and exercising more because of Green Bag.
Maria (69) noticed one day after she had moved to Ralston Tower many people gathering and walking into the First United Methodist Church. She said, “I followed the crowd and began asking individuals their reason for gathering”, in which they replied that the Green Bag distribution was about to begin.

The first time Maria attended a Green Bag distribution was 2 years ago, she was excited to be receiving vegetables free of charge because they are such an influential part of her vegetarian diet. Maria routinely puts vegetables in a jar every morning to eat throughout the day in which she stated, “These fruits and vegetables help me lower the amount of sugars I am eating and help me to snack less throughout the day”.
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After a year and a half with the Green Bag distribution at Ralston Tower located in Downtown Modesto, Maria feels great about her future with the Green Bag Program because she knows these nutritious foods will help her live a healthier life. 
Wanda (72) heard about the Green Bag Program from the Welfare Department and was excited to learn she qualified to receive extra fruits and vegetables for free along with a little added education this program offers. 

The first time Wanda went to the Green Bag Program was in 2014, she was nervous and scared what to expect from the program, but was quickly comforted upon arrival from the staff and volunteers. Wanda stated, “I have learned to choose better foods to eat from the presentations and have even begun to lose weight from eating properly”!
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Almost four years later and Wanda continues to attend the Green Bag distribution at First United Methodist Church located in Downtown Modesto. She said, “I have become interested in other programs the Healthy Aging Association offers and will continue coming to the Green Bag Program as long as it is here”.
Nellie (95) has been attending the Green Bag Program for almost one year. She heard about the program from her friends at Ralston Tower. Nellie first decided to come to the program because it makes her happy when she has a reason to get out of her apartment. She really doesn’t get out much; she usually sits at home, naps, and watches the television. Nellie said, “It gives me a reason to come and socialize, which makes me happy”.
Nellie didn’t really eat fruits and vegetables in the winter because the Farmers Market is closed and there is no local market. She is so glad that the Green Bag program is in her senior community so she can have fruits and vegetables all year long and said, “It’s a lot of help”. This month she received potatoes, cherry tomatoes, apples, and cauliflower.
Overall Nellie feels very good about her future and likes to be with her friends during the nutrition presentation and the fruits and vegetables are good.
Kathryn has been attending the program for three months. She joined the program because of her recent divorce. Kathryn stated, “Asking for help when you have been the one helping others, is a humbling experience, but every one made me feel at ease.”
Kathryn really enjoys the nutrition presentations. The presentations help with eating habits, exercise, and how to be healthier. She said, “the handouts are informative and a good reference to re-read”.
We asked, “How do you feel about your future after participating in the Green Bag program?” She wrote, hopefully – I am believing that in time I will not need the program, but right now it is a necessity. 
​Connie raised two of her grandchildren and following the graduation of the second one, she lost some income. She was at the library when she saw a poster for the Green Bag Program and was thrilled that she qualified in multiple ways. She stated, “I am of age and disabled and needed the assistance, so I went to the Green Bag distribution”.
 
The very first time Connie went to a Green Bag distribution was in 2013, she was fascinated by the nutrition presentation and the food was an added benefit.
 
Almost three years later and Connie still attends the Green Bag distribution at the First United Methodist Church located in Downtown Modesto. She said she feels hopeful about the future and that her life is different because of the Green Bag program, “I receive nutritious foods which I wouldn’t be able to afford to buy”.
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This sweet lady Nan found out about the Green Bag program at a senior information event over 2 years ago. Her husband passed away and now on a fixed (much lower) income. She recognized the need for fresh foods in her diet. She has no transportation except the bus, so she cannot shop regularly.
Her first green bag distribution she felt welcomed, the environment was friendly and the informative dynamic impressed her. She felt like it was well ran and organized. She said, "no looking-down-your-nose-stuff".
Nan looks forward to getting out for the day and enjoys the information, tastings, recipes, exercises, etc. Plus she loves having fresh food to supplement into her diet. Nan concluded, "I am grateful and appreciative of this program being offered for people in my situation".