The Veggie Van is making grocery trips easier and more accessible to older adults in the Tampa Bay area thanks to a recent grant from the WellMed Charitable Foundation (WCF).  The mobile marketplace offered by the YMCA travels to communities with limited access to healthy foods and provides free and fresh produce.  Funding from the WCF ensures access for the older adult population living with limited access to healthy food options.

According to the US Census Bureau, nearly 14% of individuals aged 65 and older live in poverty in Hillsborough County. With perishable foods high in cost, this could make older adults seek unhealthy alternatives or skip much needed medications in order to stay within their budget. Not to mention the existing challenge for transportation to a store for those with limited mobility. 

The van currently serves 11 aging services nutrition centers, which distribute to senior living facilities in the area.  Additional funding from the WCF will help the YMCA accomplish their goal of adding two more centers to the bi-weekly delivery route every year for the next 6 years.

The YMCA Veggie Van is one of two grant recipients in the Tampa market, receiving $10,000, and one of 26 grant recipients funded by the WCF in 2024 across the South Region.  Grants are funded by employee donations to the WCF.