Meals on Wheels food program at risk for budget cuts

Meals on Wheels advocates served up plates of hot roast beef with a plea for support May 10 as the senior citizen food provider faces potential state budget cuts.

“You all have a vote. This is an election year. What we want you to do is call your legislators,” said Carolyn Fredricks, president of Modern Maturity Center in Dover, where Meals on Wheels officials offered lunch to more than 150 people and encouraged them to protest cuts to Delaware's meal program.

“Last year we had a cut in grant-in-aid. This year we have a projected shortfall,” she said. “We're asking our legislators to step up to the plate and take care of our older adults. Help us feed the people in Delaware that need to be fed.”

Ken Bock, chief executive officer for CHEER Delaware in Georgetown, said about a month ago state officials announced about $850,000 in cuts to the statewide Meals on Wheels program for the upcoming year – as a result of a decrease in federal funding. For Sussex County, he said, the cut would be about $165,000 out of the $1.2 million budget for the Meals on Wheels program. Another $50,000 would come out of the $400,000 budget for meals served at the Georgetown CHEER center. If the cuts stand, he said, the center's meal budget for next year would decrease by about $220,000.

“That amount is very dramatic,” he said. “Our organization is all about trying to help senior citizens stay independent in their own homes, in their communities. This nutrition program is vital to that.”

Volunteers not only provide food, Bock said, they provide contact for people who are often living alone and isolated.

“Our volunteers check on these people. They give them human compassion and interaction, and also make sure the person is doing OK,” he said.

Recent cuts in grant-in-aid funding, which may continue next year, he said, would be a double whammy for the meal program. Last year, Bock said, all groups receiving grants-in-aid experienced a 20 percent cut; this year, he said, the governor has proposed restoring 10 percent of the cut. “But it's still a 10 percent cut this upcoming year,” he said. “Grant-in-aid for seniors funding has not increased since 2013.”

With more seniors enrolling in the Meals on Wheels program, Bock said, the funding is not keeping up with the demand. Last year, he said, volunteers provided 21,000 meals for residents in Sussex County. Some people get meals every day; others receive just a few meals a week, he said.

“We need to respond to this growing population,” he said. Both Bock and Fredricks asked seniors and others to contact legislators and encourage them to support the Meals on Wheels program. “We need your voice. Make your voice be heard,” Fredricks said.

Top Chef competition combines food and fundraising

A fundraiser for Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth will be held 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 31, at Rehoboth Beach Country Club.

The Top Chef of the Culinary Coast fundraiser will feature food from some of the top kitchens in the Cape Region. Chefs will prepare food and desserts as they compete for top chef honors. Other area establishments will provide beer, spirits and wine.

All proceeds will go to Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth.

Tickets are $65 in advance and $75 at the door.

To buy tickets in advance, go to mealsonwheels-LR.org/events, call 645-7449 or buy them in person at Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth, 32409 Lewes-Georgetown Highway, Lewes.

Participating establishments include: Big Oyster Brewery, Bluecoast Rehoboth, Café Azafran, Dogfish Head Distilling, Fins Ale House & Raw Bar and Nassau Valley Vineyards.