Meals On Wheels Needs Donations Now

The federal budget rumblings in Washington, D.C. have created shockwaves in Contra Costa County, as a local volunteer group that delivers meals to elderly housebound people faces severe cutbacks.

Meals on Wheels is considering slashing its deliveries by 200 meals a day. Volunteers already deliver 1,500 meals every day to elderly people who cannot shop or cook for themselves. Additionally, the volunteer delivery person is often the only daily contact the clients have.

But since the so-called Sequestration—a congressional vote to cut spending and services to reduce the federal budget deficit—the Meals on Wheels program is facing a major funding cut. So the choice is simple: reduce the number of meals delivered each day, or look to increased donations to keep the wheels rolling.

Sequestration has caused a $100,000 hit to the local Meals on Wheels program.

“As part of resolving this problem, we’re looking at reducing (food deliveries) by about 200 meals per day,” said program co-founder Paul Kraintz. That means 200 elderly, housebound people with little or no access to basic nutrition.

But it also means an important lifeline to the outside world will be cut.

“The visit from the Meals on Wheels volunteer is frequently the only person they see throughout their day,” Kraintz said.

Sixty percent of the program’s funding comes from grants and private donations. Kraintz is urging everyone who can to donate to the program. Donations can be made to Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa, PO Box 3195, Martinez, CA 94553 or made via the website.