During the global coronavirus pandemic of 2020-22, our seniors felt abandoned. With little to no access to fresh foods and medications, they sat in their senior-living apartments and wondered what would happen to them.

KOCO responded by organizing KOCO Serves. Every week we bought healthy, fresh foods, bagged them up and delivered them to 7,000 seniors living in Bronzeville. By 2022, we had more than doubled the number of seniors served to 15,000.

We stepped in when city, state and federal agencies were unwilling or unable to provide the resources to give seniors the support they needed during a worldwide crisis.

Our thanks came from the seniors themselves, who were genuinely touched that someone remembered them and looked out for them. Our seniors are a valuable source of wisdom, guidance and companionship. We are proud to serve them.

KOCO formed the Bronzeville Anti-hunger Network (BAN) by partnering with neighboring emergency food providers (pantries and soup kitchens) in order to combat the large demand for food assistance.

BAN generates additional resources for its members to address the hunger and nutrition needs in the Mid South area. BAN provides myriad services, including nutritional classes for people who suffer from diabetes and hypertension, and food delivery for seniors and shut-in residents.

The Mid-South Health Market is an innovative approach to address the food insecurity, lack of fresh food options, and high incidences of preventable ailments (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, obesity) in the greater Bronzeville community.

Organized by KOCO’s Bronzeville Anti-hunger Network (BAN), the Mid-South Health Market provides fresh produce, diet and nutrition information, and health screenings for more than 100 people on a monthly basis. The enhances residents’ health and wellness education, enabling them to make healthier food and lifestyle choices.

The program incorporates various elements into a cohesive 2-hour event. Participants hear presentations from medical professionals and nutritionists on:

• Overall lifestyle considerations, including abstinence from drugs and smoking;
• Healthy diets, portion size, and food preparation suggestions;
• Importance of exercise; and
• Relationship between the aforementioned items and preventable medical conditions; e.g. diabetes, hypertension, obesity

The Mid-South Health Market is designed to provide residents with the opportunity to improve the quality of their lives. Overall, participants have told the program coordinator they’ve lost weight, changed their diets, and generally feel healthier.