Theoan LeDoux recalls going three months without eating meat.
She wasn’t aiming for a vegetarian diet, but her tight budget left her with little means to cover the rising costs of meat. Things changed for the 83-year-old when Omega Support Center began providing food boxes to her and other residents at Northlake Senior Residence in Tucker.
“My house was falling down around my head. I sold my house, and I owed way more than what I had to pay,” LeDoux told Rough Draft Atlanta. “I was happy here [Northlake], but it was taking everything I got. It didn’t leave any money for me. The boxes have been seriously helpful.”
LeDoux, who now serves as a senior liaison at Omega, and hundreds of others get to enjoy canned and fresh vegetables, juices, and a variety of meats through Omega Support Center’s weekly food distribution.
Omega Support Center provides food boxes to four senior residences in Tucker and one in Clarkston, which totals more than 20,000 pounds of food each month, said Christy Bloodworth, Omega Support Center program director. The needs continue to grow for the 55+ community in Tucker, and Bloodworth is requesting help from the community to aid in the ongoing food insecurity crisis.
Changes in Tucker and beyond
Since Omega launched five years ago, seniors have a greater financial burden with rent hikes and financial subsidies for things like internet and phone services ending. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provided millions of seniors with a $30 to $75 monthly subsidy for home internet, ended in 2024, particularly impacting seniors on fixed incomes.
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“Things have changed not just in Tucker but nationwide, and we have seniors with limited income who just don’t have [adequate funds],” Bloodworth said.
Every Monday, Omega distributes about 700 pounds of dairy, meat, cereal, canned vegetables, fresh fruits and vegetables, and a number of other dry foods. The organization has also begun hosting monthly dinners at each of its participating senior homes. Bloodworth said she wants to help more Tucker seniors by expanding and preserving more of their food inventory with freezers at some of the senior communities.
How to help
Omega is currently running a fundraising campaign for three small freezers, shelving, and commercial equipment, including a 15-foot box truck with a lift that could assist with orders and deliveries. The fundraising drive will stretch out the Monday distributions, since much of the food does not have a long shelf life.
“They have to make a decision on whether they’re going to spend on necessary items like medicine, incontinence products, or even insurance,” Bloodworth said. “We know there’s a deficit in that they’re buying low-quality food or skipping meals. We’ve pledged to help by providing these nutritious meals, and this will help us expand.”
To learn more or donate to Omega Support Center, visit omegasupportcenter.org
