Project supports meals for seniors

The Nevada Senior Center serves almost 12,000 meals at the center and delivers close to 24,000 meals annually to frail, homebound older adults in and around Nevada. Approximately 100 seniors throughout Vernon County receive home delivered meals regardless of their ability to pay. Board chairman Sam Foursha said the budget crisis in Jefferson City could spell trouble for the future of the Meals on Wheels program. "Our requirements are going to double next year with less money being available from the state. This year our fund-raising goal was $8,000, next year it will be $20,000." While seniors donate generously for the meals, and grants provide some funding, community contributions remain absolutely essential to continue the program. "Until additional funds can be identified, no new requests for service can be accepted. We now have a waiting list with six to 10 people who we need to provide services for." The Nevada Senior Center is operated by District III Area Agency on Aging but it can't provide all of the funds needed to operate the centers. Thirty-five percent of the Center's funds come from grants, 31 percent from in-kind donations, 11 percent from local fund-raising, and 23 percent come from donations from the seniors themselves. "We need to keep the program alive to let these people keep a measure of independence that is so vital to a senior." Home delivered meals mean more than just food to those receiving them, the drivers who deliver the meals may be the only visitor the home bound may have that day, serving up a friendly face and a little conversation with the food. It can mean independence to those unable to cook for themselves and who might otherwise have to move into a nursing home. It also provides reassurance to the families of the seniors, knowing their loved ones are receiving hot, healthy and nutritious meals. Research shows that 65 percent of all older adults who enter the hospital do so in a malnourished condition. "Statistics indicate that it takes 40 percent longer for a malnourished patient to recover from an illness, two to three more complications are likely and hospital stays are 90 percent longer. The cost effectiveness of home delivered meals is clear when you consider the fact that the Nevada Senior Center can deliver meals to an older person for an entire year for the same amount of money it costs for a one or two day hospital stay," said Foursha. Foursha noted that the members of the board are considering ways to make it easier for people to donate to the center. "Trying to meet fund-raising goals every year is difficult. There are a lot of programs who do local fund-raisers and they are also worthy. We have to make ourselves more visible so that people are aware of us and the needs of the seniors we provide for. We're thinking of forming a foundation so that people can make bequests in their wills. It would be independent so that would take some of the pressure off of the center to continually worry about fund-raising." Foursha expressed the appreciation of the Center's workers and directors to those who have helped in the past. "We want to thank everyone who has helped make this program successful. We want people to know we're going to do everything we can to save this absolutely vital program," he said.