Groton ― Thrive55+ Active Living Center’s Just Picked program, which provides fresh produce to seniors and teaches them how to prepare nutritional dishes, has received a national award.

The initiative won the Programs of Excellence Award for Nutrition from the National Council on Aging’s National Institute of Senior Centers.

The Groton program “has helped 109 older adults receive farm fresh produce and learn how to prepare meals with these vegetables,” according to a news release from the center.

“With over 5.2 million people age 60+ facing hunger and food insecurity, programs like Just Picked are an important way to assist older adults,” the release states. “Hunger has a profound impact on older adults’ health and nutrition, increasing their risk for diabetes, depression and asthma.”

“We were fortunate to be able to participate in the 2022 Just Picked program hosted by Thrive55+. Having access to fresh vegetables still warm from the garden was a treat on its own, but to have chefs showing us how to use and cook with them was an added bonus,” Sharon Chernesky and Barbara Daniels, participants at Thrive55+, said in a statement.