Senior Pantry Program
Our Senior Pantry Program is designed to be a safe place for seniors to source nutritious food. Eligible seniors can shop for groceries twice a month. It’s a wonderful resource that supports healthy, independent aging in our senior community.
How It Works
Eligible participants can call (616) 459-3111 and select option 3 for information on the Senior Pantry. Seniors have their choice of shopping once or twice a month, totaling $100-120 (80-100 lbs.) of groceries each month.
Special Thanks to Kent County Senior Millage
Meals on Wheels Western Michigan has been able to provide our Senior Pantry program since 2000 thanks to funding from the Kent County Senior Millage.
Location Information
Our Kent County Senior Pantry also offers additional senior services and referrals. Ask for more details while you’re there or call (616) 459-3111 and select option 3 for more information.
Grand Rapids NE
Monday: 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Friday: By Appointment
Senior Pantry FAQs
About Senior Pantry Eligibility
To qualify for our Senior Pantry Program, seniors must meet the following requirements:
- They must be 60 or older.
- They must live in Kent County.
- Their income must be below 200% of current poverty guidelines.
Note: These qualifications do not apply for TEFAP and USDA products.
Seniors can shop for a suggested donation of $3 per visit. All donations are used to support the Senior Pantry programing. Like with all of our programs, MOWWM will never turn away an eligible senior if they can’t donate. We operate on a “give what you can, when you can, if you can” basis. We encourage all Senior Pantry shoppers to continue to visit our locations if the program is helpful for them, even if they aren’t able to donate.
Yes, you can have a proxy shop for you! Call (616) 459-3111 and select option 3 for more information.
About Shopping
Groceries vary based on availability and seasonality. However, the pantry always supplies options from each food group—grains, fruits, vegetables and proteins. Common items found at the Senior Pantry include:
- Bread
- Grains (cereal, oats, rice, pasta)
- Fresh, frozen and canned fruit
- Fresh, frozen and canned vegetables
- Canned and frozen meats
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.)
- Personal care items (toilet paper, dish soap, etc.)
Yes! We are a choice pantry that utilizes MyPlate to provide a nutritional shopping experience. We have a wide variety of items to choose from, including grains, dairy, protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, and personal care items.
Yes, please bring your own bags.
Yes, staff and volunteers are readily available to help carry groceries out to your vehicle.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD- 3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online by clicking here, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- Mail
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - Fax
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - Email
program.intake@usda.gov
