Fri
Mar 29 2013
08:35 am
Wheels coming off Meals on Wheels
By: R. Neal

The Knoxville - Knox County Community Action Committee's Mobile Meals program is facing a serious funding problem. A volunteer tells us that donations from foundations, corporations and private donors have bottomed out because of the poor economy over the past five years.

There was a waiting list of 50 people in February, and the list has grown to 75 people. Here are some of their stories. If more funding is not found, the list will keep growing and some existing clients may have to be dropped. Mobile Meals makes and delivers 1100 meals daily in Knox County. Volunteers also provide regular contact and welfare checks for clients.

Knox County slightly reduced CAC's overall funding for 2012 from $1,583,369 to $1,559,919 and maintained the same level for the current fiscal year, well below the requested funding of $2,089,919. The City of Knoxville reduced CAC's funding in 2012 from $580,623 to $565,640 but significantly increased it to $690,640 for the current fiscal year. The Knox County budget notes that CAC leverages 19 federal dollars for every local dollar.

United Way donated $107,000 to CAC in 2011, the latest figures published on their website. The East Tennessee Foundation donated $140,702 in 2010, the latest figures published on their website.

More info:

• Mobile Meals program
• Make a donation

Topics:
R. Neal's picture

UPDATE: Broyles seeks $500K

Submitted by R. Neal on Sat, 2013/06/15 - 5:56am.

UPDATE: Broyles seeks $500K for 'Meals' plan

Lisa Starbuck's picture

Kudos to Amy Broyles

Submitted by Lisa Starbuck on Sat, 2013/06/15 - 11:04am.

Amy Broyles is not my commissioner but I have to speak up to say how much I appreciate her quest to allocate $500k of the budget surplus to the Meals on Wheels program this year to help them get back on a stable funding basis.

She said if the county put up the money it would take the pressure off the organization, and give folks a year to fund the mobile meals program and hire a consultant to work with the program and help develop professional, long-term fund-raising plans not dependent on federal resources.

Anyone who can view the waiting list, with descriptions of the extremely vulnerable senior citizens who desperately need this service, and not be moved to help, must have a heart of stone.

Mike Donila has more information about Commissioner Broyles' funding request on his blog.

Thank you, Amy, for stepping up and speaking out about this issue. Needless to say, I support this funding request, and will be in contact with other commissioners asking for their support. Please take a moment to lend your support as well by calling or emailing your county commissioners.

Vicky's picture

Mobile Meals means more than just food to recipients.

Submitted by Vicky (not verified) on Sun, 2013/06/16 - 4:59pm.
(in reply to Lisa Starbuck)

It also means a wellness check to people who may not have any other visitors. Someone sick, disoriented or worse will get help quickly.

In this heat (and the cold during the winter) it means that if someone is without needed utilities and does not know or have the resources to do something about it, the right parties are notified so help can be provided.

It means that recipients have extra meals at home for days when the weather may prevent their regular delivery from arriving. (Although this is a very rare situation because the Mobile Meals volunteers who deliver the meals seem to find a way to get to "their people" even in the worst weather.)

It means that the recipients get what may be their only gift at Christmas when their holiday meal is delivered. The Department on Aging at the CAC building on Western accepts NEW items (toiletries, slippers, lap robes, socks, postage stamps, etc.) for this program so if you've got something you'd like to "re-gift", this is a wonderful place to find it a home.

In short, Mobile Meals is a critical lifeline to many who have no one else to care about or for them.

Please do as Lisa suggests - call or e-mail your commissioners and ask them to vote to support Mobile Meals.

Lisa Starbuck's picture

If you support this issue

Submitted by Lisa Starbuck on Mon, 2013/06/24 - 1:32pm.

If you support this issue, please call your county commissioners, or better yet, show up at the City/County building at 2pm this afternoon. It is looking like they are getting ready to deny this funding request at their meeting today, so time is of the essence!

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