Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydney Portilla-Diggs.
Sydney, before we jump into specific questions about your organization, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am an associate humanities professor at Collin College. In addition, I am a certified life coach. As long as I can remember helping people is something that has been a part of my life. Both my husband and I volunteer extensively in many areas.
Our passion to alleviate food insecurity is driven by our personal experiences. My husband Sherman experienced food insecurity as he grew up in the Delta of Mississippi. I was raised in a single-parent home after my parents divorced. I witnessed my mother, who worked for over thirty years as a gerontological nurse, struggle to survive on her meager Social Security benefits. Without the help of my husband and I, my mother would not have been able to buy nutritious food.
I was diagnosed with cancer in 2013. Of course, I was plagued with thoughts of all the things I might not get to do if the worst were to happen. I wanted to make a difference.
In 2016, my husband and I accompanied two of their dearest friends Michael and Seidy Trent to Costa Rica. I was inspired to organize a visit to an elder facility in Heredia, Costa Rica and donated undergarments, hygienic products, and sandals. Moved by the needs, we would travel to Costa Rica again with more donations and fill the food pantry.
After that experience, I was determined to focus our efforts on North Texas area seniors who were without family or resources. Recognizing that it was becoming increasingly difficult for poor and disadvantaged seniors to obtain services, we founded a non-profit organization to support senior food-insecurity and provide quality of life support through advocacy and education.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been easy. I have continued to struggle with health issues and I struggled to find the resources we needed to serve the aging population. Sometimes it has been difficult to find funding in the face of such a great need. We want to be able to help our aging population in many areas.
Nearly five million senior citizens aged 60 and older struggle with hunger. In the next two decades, the number of seniors is projected to increase significantly and consequently, the number of seniors facing hunger is expected to rise. But this isn’t a fact that is readily known.
One in twelve seniors in the United States is food insecure. As of 2017, there were 49 million Americans age 65 and over, and about eight million of them can be considered facing the threat of hunger. Seniors living in the South are more likely to experience food insecurity than seniors living in other parts of the country. Not only is senior hunger such a large issue now, the threat of it persisting as a problem into the future is high because of the high rate of seniors expected to exist. African-Americans, Hispanics, women, disabled, and seniors with children in their household are at the highest risk.
Since people are not aware of the need, the aging population is often overlooked or ignored.
We’d love to hear more about your organization.
Founded in 2017, Any Step Community Services is a non-profit organization that collects, purchases, and donates nutritious food to senior citizens in the North Texas area. Through our association with like-minded businesses and individuals, we advocate food equity and improve quality of life through education and voluntarism.
Any Step Community Services recognizes the older adult American population as one of this country’s greatest resources; even so, our senior citizen population is often forgotten and struggles with the issue of food equity.
Any Step Community focuses on the many ways to combat senior hunger and the ways to inspire the many volunteers willing to help.
As the organization’s Executive Director, I am most proud of the fact that we have nearly tripled the amount of food we have donated. Our organization is diligent in the food we collect or purchase. We have our recommended food item list reviewed by a nutritionist; in this way, we are different, we can be confident that we are disseminating the most nutritious food. We also contribute hygienic supplies and cleaning products to senior households.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My husband says I am a visionary. I do agree that I am a dreamer but it is my creativity and passion that enable my dreams to become a reality. I am not afraid to ask questions. At the worst, I can be told no; however, I might get a yes. And I have been known to ask again and again. This mission is very near and dear to my heart but it is not something I can accomplish on my own. We rely on donations, support, and hands-on volunteerism. As a community, we can strive to meet the needs of our most important citizens who deserve to live with dignity.
Contact Info:
- Address: Any Step Community Services
4401 Windsor Drive
Garland, Texas &5042 - Website: www.anystepcommunity.com
- Phone: 214-771-1018
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/anystepcommunity?igshid=5ahedugp1/nah
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/AnyStepCoaching/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/Anystepcommunit
Image Credit:
All pictures belong to me. Sydney Portilla-Diggs
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