ALBANY — The SOWEGA Council on Aging served host on Tuesday to one of 12 listening sessions taking place throughout Georgia concerning senior hunger. At the same time, recognition was given to the community’s senior volunteers.

The Georgia Department of Human Services is expecting to incorporate feedback from the listening sessions to develop a state plan to address the issue of senior hunger, which is meant to serve as a road map for agencies, non-profits and community organizations as they work to eliminate food insecurity.

The session was conducted by North Highland, a consulting firm based in Atlanta, which took down input from senior citizens present in order to address what officials say is a real issue. Officials say people impacted by food insecurity issue need to speak up so innovative ideas can be instituted to combat it.

Many times, officials say, seniors are embarrassed to talk about it and suffer in silence.

“Until people talk about it, we can’t address it,” SOWEGA Council on Aging Executive Director Debbie Blanton said.