One in 6 Kansans, 15 % of the population, faces food insecurity–the lack of access, at times, to enough food for their  household.

In Ellis County the food insecurity rate is 12.1%,  or nearly 34-hundred residents.

The Center for Civic Leadership at Fort Hays State University is sponsoring a series of events this spring addressing the issue of hunger in Kansas.

Volunteer gathered Saturday to package 1600 “Bob Boxes” for senior citizens in 25 northwest Kansas counties.  The new program is funded by former U-S Senator Bob Dole of Russell.

Kansas Food Bank president Brian Walker, Wichita, says the free food boxes are available at the Ellis County Health Department.  “We’re look for seniors that won’t ask for help,” he says.  “We hear of  so many older people feeding their cat, the only family they have left, even when they don’t have enough food for themselves.”

Walker says about 96 “Bob Boxes” are distributed to Ellis County senior citizens each week.