For most people in the nation, gathering food is nothing but a trip to the closest grocery store, but for many seniors, it can be more difficult than that.

According to Feeding America’s 2016 Map the Meal Gap, about 17 percent of people in Pearl River County are food insecure, which equates to over 9,000 people. Also, in Mississippi, one in five seniors are food insecure, states Feeding the Gulf Coast in a press release.

“The hardest part about the life of seniors is affording food. It’s not only difficult for them to afford food, but also to go out and get it,” said Senior Center Participants Coordinator Kathleen Penton.