Potential cuts to federal funding for Meals on Wheels could increase dependence on fundraising for programs in west Kentucky.
Lisa Mills is services director at Murray-Calloway County Senior Citizens Center. She said 50 percent of funding is supplied through federal and state grants and cuts would require more fundraising dollars to support the program. Mills says while there would be fear at the center if reductions were to happen, the budget discussion is in its initial stages.
“I know this program is very highly supported so we’re not worried yet, but it could create a hardship if the state or federal government cut their funding,” Mills said.
Mills said the center’s Meals on Wheels program provides 120 homebound seniors with one daily meal that accounts for one-third of their daily nutrition.
Guelda Wooldridge, executive director of the Paducah-McCracken County Senior Center, said the Paducah program provides 98 home delivered meals to McCracken County seniors. In addition, Wooldridge said the program provides socialization and a “safety check” for seniors.
According to the Meals on Wheels website, more than 2.4 million seniors nationally received meals in 2016. Of those millions, more than 500,000 were veterans.
