County takes no action on Meals on Wheels funding appeal

By Anton Riecher
Medina Senior Center Executive Director Sharayah Gonzales made a heartfelt appeal for funds to the Medina County Commissioners Court Monday to save the local Meals on Wheels program, which is left reeling from recent cutbacks.
“Today I come to you because right now we are in urgent need and we are looking to prevent the shutdown of our program serving more than 3,000 seniors in Medina County,” Gonzales said.
She told commissioners that without an infusion of cash the program could shut down by mid-to-late July.
Recent proposed budget cuts, particularly from the Trump administration, are targeting Older Americans Act (OAA) programs. These cuts could significantly impact vital services for older adults, including nutrition programs, health promotion, disease prevention, and elder abuse prevention efforts.
To date, the Medina County Meals on Wheels program has suffered funding cuts of more than $112,000. The total shortfall for the entire program is $250,000 out of an annual cost of $400,000.
“It’s near and dear to my heart,” Gonzales said. “I feel like it’s an honor to represent all the seniors in our community.”
The county already funds Meals on Wheels to the extent of $50,000 annually through the Texas Department of Agriculture which facilitates the Texans Feeding Texans: Home Delivered Meals Grant Program. In addition to money sought from the county, Meals on Wheels has applied for $138,000 in grant funding from the Baptist Health Foundation.
Unfortunately, because of the pressure placed on that grant program, the amount the local Meals on Wheels is eligible to obtain has been slashed to $35,000, Gonzales said. Meals on Wheels is also applying for funding through the James Avery jewelry company.
Meals on Wheels has already been forced to reduce its number of eligible seniors by nearly 60 people in March. Applications from nearly 45 more seniors to join the program are pending.
Meals on Wheels volunteers drive nearly 20,000 miles annually to deliver meals to eligible seniors. The average cost per meal is $8, Gonzales said.
She added that the Medina Senior Center is planning a fundraising event in July in an attempt to keep the program going.
Commissioners took no immediate action on the matter.
In other action, the commissioners voted 3-0 to approve a resolution amending the development agreement for the Talley Ho Public Improvement District.
Also, the court voted to approve an owner/contractor agreement for the partial remodeling of the Medina County tax office at 1502 Avenue M in Hondo in conjunction with a sealed bid awarded to W.R. Griggs Construction Co. in April.