House Appropriations Committee passes Labor-HHS-Education funding bill for Fiscal Year 2025 cutting funding for Meals on Wheels programs, greatly exacerbating the $8 million cut local programs received this April. 

Arlington, VA – July 12, 2024 – Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander and NANASP Executive Director Bob Blancato today issued the following statement regarding the devastating cuts to senior nutrition programs passed by the House Appropriations Committee:

As leaders of the nationwide network of more than 5,000 community-based senior nutrition programs and the millions of older Americans they serve, we are distressed that the House Appropriations Committee passed a Labor-HHS-Education funding bill with substantial cuts to the Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Programs. The bill includes a devastating $37 million cut for Home-Delivered and Congregate nutrition programs. This adds insult to injury, coming on the heels of an $8 million cut to these programs in April.  

The House Appropriations bill falls drastically short of the federal funding needed to continue to provide the critical supports seniors depend on for lifesaving services. Our programs have been doing their best to serve seniors in need while experiencing consistently high demand for services, a rapidly increasing senior population, exceedingly high operational costs and growing waitlists. The reality on the ground is that this will only intensify should these cuts prevail. We implore the full House and the Senate to reject these cuts and support older adults by increasing funding to allow programs to do what they have done for over fifty years: provide critical meals and social connection to enable the health and well-being of older adults who rely on these programs. 

Meals on Wheels programs across the country have shared with us the growing need in their communities, the failure of current funding to keep pace and the dire consequences that federal spending cuts have already had on their programs and the individuals they serve: 

• “We currently only have 54% of federal funds to support our program, and many grantors are cutting back on funds, which will result in having to supply Meals on Wheels customers with only one single meal. Many of our congregate sites will have to limit days of service.” – Program in Connecticut
• “We have an extensive waitlist for Meals on Wheels clients due to the need of our community being greater than our budget. Several of the individuals on our waitlist have passed away while awaiting services.” – Program in Maryland
• “Seniors in rural areas would no longer have the safety check and nutritious meals that enable them to remain independent in their own home. This service is life and death to those in our rural communities of middle Tennessee.” – Program in Tennessee.
• “With additional cuts we will likely have to create our first waiting list in more than a decade.” – Program in Michigan

Our message to Congress is to step up and address the growing crisis of senior hunger and isolation in America, and the best way to do that is by properly funding senior nutrition programs. Too many lives are hanging in the balance. 

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ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a trusted volunteer workforce, this network delivers a comprehensive solution that begins with a meal and is proven to enable independence and well-being through the additional benefits of tailored nutrition, social connection, safety and much more. By providing funding, programming, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

ABOUT NANASP
Founded in 1977, the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) is proud to be a leading organization advocating for policies and programs nourishing older adults. Our 1,110 member programs represent a wide range of essential services providers who support the nutrition, health and life quality of over 4 million older adults. For more information, go to nanasp.org.

Press Contacts:

Jenny Young
Meals on Wheels America
press@mealsonwheelsamerica.org

Laura Borth 
NANASP 
202-789-0470 
lborth@nanasp.org