In the past two weeks, we have received numerous calls and messages from concerned members of our community, including many from the older adults who rely on us for their daily meals, about the effect of the temporary federal funding freeze on our home delivered meal program.
Older Americans Act funding granted by the Administration on Community Living (ACL), an operating division of the US Department of Health and Human Services is being reviewed.
This grant is issued by the ACL to the Maryland Department on Aging, who distributes it to the local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), which you may know as your local Department on Aging, or Senior Services. Eight AAAs Central Maryland contract with us to deliver meals and other support to homebound aging adults who live in their counties, and some also rely on us for their senior center and eating together meal programs.
At this time, we have not been notified by any of our local Area Agencies on Aging that our funding will be interrupted in the near future, and we are committed to fully operating to execute our mission of service until further notice.
Nevertheless, we must remain vigilant to protect the Older Americans Act and associated grant funding, which has been vital to keeping our older adults nourished and safe at home since it was first passed by a bipartisan Act of Congress in 1965.
This funding makes up 45 percent of our annual operating budget. A decision to discontinue, these funds would result in 630,000 fewer meals delivered and 2,250 people left without a reliable source for nourishment and social interaction. It will not only disrupt our ability to serve the growing number of older adults in need, it will also compromise the high standard we believe they deserve, including providing the necessary support programs that keep them safe at home.
At Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, we are always advocating on behalf of older adults, whose voice is often unheard, but the call is especially urgent today. Our leaders in Congress have set a deadline of March 14th to finalize a federal spending bill. Any reduction in Older Americans Act funding would be extremely damaging, leaving many of our older adults left hungry and alone.