Meals on Wheels could lose federal funding - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(02/25/13) - Our state stands to lose $140 million in federal money if cuts happen. The cuts will be felt in education, and some programs that help seniors will feel an impact too.

The Valley Area Agency on Aging is very concerned - they're already on a tight budget. Any more cuts to their programs could force some seniors to go without a hot meal. Automatic spending cuts set to go into effect Friday will impact about nine percent of the Valley Area Agency on Aging's budget.

Executive director Kathy Boles says that could put about 25,000 home delivered meals in jeopardy. The agency serves seniors in Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee counties. Sixteen programs stand to lose some amount of federal dollars.

We're talking about meals on wheels and hundreds more meals at local senior centers, like one in Burton. In 2012, the agency served more than 700,000 meals across the tri-county area.

Boles says they may have to cut their home delivery schedule from five days a week to three.

"I'm fearing that with already a stressed community in terms of funding, already stressed to serve all the people that we're suppose to serve, this on top of that will make matters worse. It almost feels like our elected officials don't understand our concerns and how this impacts down to the lowest level which is the people that receive the meals," Boles said.