Funding cuts impact seniors getting meals

LISBON - Some Columbiana County seniors enjoy a daily moment of companionship and a hot meal when the Senior Nutrition van rolls up to their home, but others just like them have to wait their turn.

That's because there's a waiting list of senior citizens wanting home-delivered meals - about 60 of them who can't come to a senior nutrition site in person.

With funding cuts, the Community Action Agency which operates the nutrition program administered by the Area Agency on Aging can't expand and add more people to the routes, so they're trying to seek donations to further help the seniors they're already serving.

"We only deliver Monday through Friday. What happens on Saturday and Sunday?" CAA

Community Services Director Ruth Allison said.

Senior Services Coordinator Personna Grim explained the agency received federal stimulus dollars for the program, but the government dictated how the money was divided, giving more for congregate, or meals served at one of six locations in the county. The county received $29,731 for congregate from July through December 2010 and $14,637 for home-delivered meals for the same time period.

"Our need is in home-delivered," Grim said, explaining they're not permitted to take the stimulus money from congregate and use it for home-delivered.

At the same time, the program sustained cuts in state and federal funding which totaled $28,447 for next year. Their funding decreased from $241,780 this year to $213,333 next year. Each home-delivered meal costs $7.50 and each congregate meal costs $6.75. Seniors are asked to donate up to $1.25 per meal for a donation. About 225 meals are served daily.

"We're doing the best we can," she said.

They had received $1,100 in donations for Thanksgiving and received another $150 at the beginning of December, but can always use more.

Senior service aides Karen Lewis and Sandy Merrill said the need for their program continues to grow. Residents age 60 years or older are eligible to participate, but they both commented that many are still working at that age and beyond. Many of their clients are much older.

Besides donations of money to help provide shelf stable meals their clients could have for days the program isn't running, they suggested donations of blankets or even just some Christmas card greetings. For some seniors, that delivery may be their only human contact for the day.

Anyone wanting to donate to the program can contact Grim at 330-424-4013. Checks can be made out to Community Action Agency, but senior nutrition must be designated on the memo line to ensure the money goes to the program.

Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net