Lawrence County proclaims May Older Americans Month as agency warns of meal-service waiting list and possible federal cuts

Lawrence County commissioners on Wednesday proclaimed May 2025 as Older Americans Month and heard a presentation from Jamie Herman, the new executive director of Area Agency on Aging District 7, who said federal funding uncertainty and local demand are straining senior services.

The proclamation was moved and seconded during the meeting and approved with Commissioner Mike Finley and Commissioner Deanna Holliday voting yes. Holliday said the proclamation will be signed by Board President Dr. Colton Copley, Holliday and Finley. Herman, introduced as an Area Agency on Aging District 7 executive and Lawrence County native, presented local data and asked the commissioners and residents to press state and federal lawmakers to protect aging services.

Herman said the agency serves a multi-county area and warned of federal budget proposals that could reduce services. "Right now we have over 800 individuals on waiting lists in our 10 counties for meals," Herman said, and asked the county to help amplify advocacy to federal lawmakers. She said the agency has template letters for residents to send to Congressman David Taylor and state Senators Matthew Husted and Frank Marino (as named in the presentation).

Herman also summarized local efforts to address senior food insecurity, including a Fill the Freezer initiative run in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachia and the county fair to process and donate protein from animals purchased at the fair, and the senior farmers market program that connects seniors with fresh produce while supporting local farmers. Members of the public present included Lou and Darlene Green and Amanda Cleary from Third and Center, who were acknowledged during the proclamation presentation.

Commissioner Holliday offered to accept the agency's template letters at the commissioners' office and review them. "If you'd like to submit those letters to our office, we'll take a look at those," Holliday said.

The presentation asked the county to help publicize the agency's needs and to consider future partnership opportunities; Herman noted the agency is pursuing grants and other funding sources to sustain services. The agency reported that waiting-list pressure is regional (more than 800 across 10 counties) and said the number of Lawrence County residents on the waiting list was described in the meeting as "a little over a hundred," but no precise county-specific count was provided during the presentation.

The commissioners completed the agenda after the proclamation and aging-services presentation; several other items were tabled because Board President Dr. Colton Copley was absent. The county also approved separate routine personnel motions and other business later in the meeting.