Agnes Tatro was very nearly homeless. The 78-year-old retired lab tech lost her home to foreclosure. It was a scary time until she found an apartment for $505 a month. Now she makes do with her Social Security check, but doesn’t have much left over.
“I have enough money to sustain myself for now, but I can’t always have enough left over to do the extra things, like buy a nice shirt or hoodie,” she said.
Tatro and her neighbors at Brookhollow Landing — a Vintage Housing senior living complex operated by LIFE Senior Services — depend on benefits from the federal government, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Tatro gets $24 in SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps, each month.
“There are a fair amount of people that I know who get SNAP here, or who need food,” Tatro said. “Four of us will go to different food banks or churches to get food in our name, then we bring it back here. We pick out some things that we might need, but the bulk of it goes into our kitchen so anyone else who lives here can have it.”
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 20% of SNAP recipients are seniors older than 60 with fixed incomes. A loss of benefits can force them to choose between buying medicine or eating daily meals.
LIFE Senior Services operates 19 Vintage Housing properties in the Tulsa area, serving about 700 residents. Many live on less than $1,000 a month, and half their income goes to rent.
After the Nov. 1 SNAP freeze amid the government shutdown, LIFE Senior Services president and CEO Eileen Bradshaw put out a call for food donations.
“Our managers are telling us our residents are concerned about losing their SNAP benefits,” Bradshaw said. “We have a significant number on SNAP, and we are worried they won’t get what they need.”
While the Trump administration has agreed to partially fund SNAP benefits in November, those payments will be reduced and delayed.
LIFE Senior Services is asking Tulsans to donate non-perishable foods to help fill the gap. Specifically, they need:
- Canned meats, soups and vegetables
- Peanut butter, jelly and crackers
- Rice, pasta and instant potatoes
- Oatmeal, cereal and powdered milk
- Shelf-stable snacks and hygiene items
Donations can be dropped off at LIFE’s Roma Berry Center for Seniors, 4821 S. 72nd E. Ave., Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (918) 664-9000 with any questions.
“It’s heartbreaking to see so many older adults — people who spent their lives working hard, raising families and contributing to their communities — now having to choose between groceries and essential medications,” Bradshaw said. “We don’t always know if folks are going hungry.”
Bradshaw says community members, organizations and businesses can host food drives or contribute financially to help LIFE Senior Services purchase bulk pantry items for residents in need. Food drive proceeds will be shared among all residents of the 19 Vintage Housing communities.
Tatro recognizes that moving from her house to a senior community has had some advantages. Neighbors take care of each other and management steps in to assist during hard times.
“Within two days of my starting to look, I found this place. So then I was totally relieved that I had some place to go,” she said. “I like it here. I made some good friends here. I’m very comfortable.”
Read more stories from The Oklahoma Eagle and Tulsa Flyer about changes to SNAP benefits and how the community is responding.
