Food Truck Used To Combat Hunger, Poor Nutrition Among San Diego’s Low-Income Seniors
In more public health news from California, a former pastor with Parkinson's disease now writes a humorous and touching blog about his changed life, toxic algae blooms in state lakes and the Modesto Reservoir gives out life jackets and CPR lessons to decrease drowning cases.
Sacramento Bee:
Fighting Poor Nutrition Among California Seniors – With A Food Truck
California is a leading state in which seniors have become among “the hidden poor,” according to a 2015 study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Nearly 1 in 5, or about 772,000, of California’s adults older than 65 cannot afford basic needs such as food, housing, transportation and health care, but often do not qualify for public assistance, the study found. “If you’re running out of money at the end of the month ... the easiest thing is to cut down on food or eat food that is inexpensive or not nutritious,” said Steven Wallace, associate director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and co-author of the report. (Agha, 7/17)
Modesto Bee:
Former Pastor ‘Searching For Voice’ Stolen By Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease took away Steve La Farge’s calling and career – 35 years as a pastor – but it hasn’t robbed him of one of the things he loved most about being at the pulpit: sharing stories. Today, his outlet for that is a blog titled “Searching for My Voice,” which he began in March. And a sharp left turn in occupations – La Farge now is a full-time driver for Uber and Lyft afternoons and nights after days spent job hunting – provides plenty of material. (Farrow, 7/17)
LA Daily News:
Toxic Algae Is Blooming More Often In Our Lakes, Reservoirs. Does That Threaten Our Drinking Water?
The night of Aug. 1, 2014, Toledo water officials received some troubling news. For the first time in the city’s history, an unsafe amount of a dangerous algae toxin had been detected in its drinking water supply. “We need to take action right now,” Public Utilities Director Ed Moore recalled saying when the city ordered customers not to drink, shower, brush their teeth or wash dishes with the tap water coming from their faucets. (Baer, 7/17)
Modesto Bee:
Keeping Kids Safe On The Water, One Life Vest At A Time
On a typically hot, sunny Central Valley summer day, heads bobbed up and down in Modesto Reservoir as kids sought relief in the water. But on Saturday, more of those heads were being buoyed with the help of brand-new life vests. Safe Kids Stanislaus, a coalition of local health care providers, family service groups and law enforcement agencies, had 200 free life jackets to give away to children Saturday morning. (Rowland, 7/16)