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Senior center faces funding shortfall
The effects of the Congressional sequester of federal funds have begun to trickle down to the local level, with funds for the Meals on Wheels program drying up until July 1.
That won't stop the Mountain Home Senior Center from delivering meals, however, said center president Ruthada Powell. "We have some money in reserve, and we are not going to let anyone go hungry," she said.
But, she added, "any donations we can get would be greatly appreciated. Our pockets aren't very deep."
At issue is federal money that is passed down through the state and ultimately through the District III Area Agency on Aging to local senior centers. The mandatory federal budget cuts have left the agency with no funds for the remainder of the state fiscal year, which resets on July 1.
After than, Powell said, state officials have assured her that the local center will be reimbursed for its meals.
But it is going to get harder to get on the program, which locally delivers three meals a week to seniors who are considered to be relatively isolated "shut-ins."
Beginning this May, not everyone who applies for the program will be given the meals free.
Eligibility for the program is determined by federal standards and approval is granted through the Area Agency on Aging. Among those eligible to receive meals, however, is a subset of seniors who have the ability to drive, or who have full-time caregivers, either professional or family members. Those people will be asked to pay for the meals, which average about $7 per meal.
Last year, the Mountain Home Senior Center served up to 60 meals a week, but due to deaths or recipients moving into care facilities, the number is down to about 50 a week, now. The meals are delivered on the same days that the noon congregate meals, a separate program, are served at the senior center, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. When there is a Monday holiday, when the senior center is closed and no congregate meals are held, a frozen dinner is delivered to Meals on Wheels recipients on Friday to cover that day.
Declining funding from federal/state resources has increasingly forced the senior center to rely on its own resources to pay for its programs, of which the meals programs are a major service.
Both the congregate program at the center (where members pay a suggested donation) and the Meals on Wheels program provide nutritious meals to seniors, some of whom have difficulty making ends meet and providing themselves with a complete meal.
The senior center accepts donations to help in its fight against senior hunger. For ever $7 donated, a meal can be provided to a senior who needs it. In addition, volunteers are always needed to help deliver for the Meals on Wheels program.
For more information about how you can help, contact the senior center at 587-4562.