GC Commissioners Allocate $39,383 To Cover Meals On Wheels Shortfall

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GC Commissioners Allocate $39,383 To Cover Meals On Wheels Shortfall


Oct. 2, 2008

The Garrett County commissioners on Tuesday appropriated more than $39,000 to cover a Meals on Wheels budget shortfall. Without the funding, Community Action's Area Agency on Aging would have needed to reduce its home-delivered meal service from five days a week to four.
"This made my day and many more to come," said Pam Nelson, Community Action's vice president of Community Services and Family Development, when she heard about the allocation. "It is a very good feeling to know that we can continue to feed those most in need: our elderly who often live alone and cannot buy food to cook for themselves."

On average, 150 local elderly residents are served by Meals on Wheels, according to AAA.

Denny Glotfelty, chair of the Board of Garrett County Commissioners, said he and his colleagues felt a great sense of relief that the program would not have to be cut.

"We've been concerned about the Meals on Wheels program since the news first came out that cuts were in the making," Glotfelty said. "We just couldn't allow some of our fellow Garrett Countians to go hungry."

During a meeting with the commissioners in July, Nelson and AAA director Adina Brode said they expected a shortfall of more than $36,000 for the home-delivered meal program because of cost increases in gas, food, meal packaging, and the minimum wage, as well as the lack of increase in state and federal funding.

As a result, several cost-saving measures would have to be made beginning in October, including reducing the home-delivered meal service days.

At the July meeting, the commissioners said they hated to see cuts to Meals on Wheels, as many seniors depend on the service not only for food but social interaction with the meal deliverer as well.

The AAA officials said they had looked at various ways to try to maintain the five-day service level, but given the current funding situation, it did not look possible.

This week, the commissioners agreed to appropriate $39,383 from the Garrett County Health Department's carryover to maintain the five-day service level.

"This is a one-time appropriation for fiscal year 2009," said county administrator Monty Pagenhardt. "These funds were made available from the supplemental carryover of fiscal year 2008 funds ($185,715) from the Health Department to the county."

Of the appropriated funding, $9,936 will be used to cover delivery costs, $6,000 for personnel, and $23,447 for food, according to Community Action president Duane Yoder.


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