We hear a lot about how many children are going hungry in this country, but a new campaign aims to raise awareness about low-income senior citizens who routinely skip meals or buy poor quality food to survive. Jo Ann Jenkins, president of the AARP Foundation, says Iowa is among the better states for an elderly person to live, according to a new study.

“Iowa ranks 41st out of 50 states who face the threat of senior hunger,” Jenkins says. “There are roughly four-percent of seniors in the state who face the threat of hunger every day.” Through the national effort called Drive to End Hunger, Jenkins says Iowans can help to tackle the problem.

Jenkins says, “We want to really engage people at all levels, whether you’re an individual who can make a donation to our DriveToEndHunger-dot-org website, or bring food or volunteer at a local food bank, or if you’re a corporation, we want you to join with us.” The study finds more than six-million Americans over the age of 60 are facing the threat of hunger daily. That number is expected to increase by 75-percent by 2025.

“These statistics are from the latest research from Meals on Wheels,” she says. “Meals on Wheels is one of the organizations who actually goes out and delivers a nutrutional hot meal to seniors across the country so we use their statistics for this information.” Whether you give five-dollars or five-thousand, or have five minutes or five hours to volunteer, she says every bit counts.

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)