Cuts hit Meals on Wheels program

jclark@sunmulti.com

Federal, state and even individual budget cuts have taken a

toll on the Houston County Meals on Wheels program.

“This year is the worst year we’ve seen in all that time,”

said Kenny Weaver, the executive director of the Meal on Wheels in Warner

Robins, about his 27 years working in the field. “It has really hit us hard

this year.”

According to Weaver, individual donations are down by 15

percent and there has been a significant cut of federal and state monies, which

does not count the approximately $7,000 in cuts before sequestration hit.

United Way has also received a 16 percent cut.

Once the federal government started to talk about

furloughing government workers at the beginning of the year, the organization

saw a major drop in donations from people who live in the county.

The donations “almost stopped completely from January on,”

he said.

The organization serves 158 meals a day, but that has been

cut to 145 meals a day. There are 138 people on the waiting list. The meals

have to meet certain dietary specifications, stated Weaver.

Meals on Wheels is “a critical service, not just for food,”

explained Weaver. “The volunteer may be the only person they see.”

Weaver said there is not a lot of overhead when it comes to

the organization. There is one full-time employee and five part-time employees

with volunteers who deliver the meals around the county Monday through Friday. {{more}}

Local businesses and organizations like Ruby Tuesday, Modern

Woodmen and Robins Federal Credit Union have donated funds to the organization.

Donations can be sent to Houston County Council On Aging,

Inc., P.O. Box 118 Warner Robins, GA 30199. For more information visit

www.hocomow.org or call 478-328-6070.

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